Being arrested is never a pleasant experience no matter what the specific situation may be. If it happens while you’re out of town or in another state though, the confusion and disorientation associated with the process can be far worse. For most people, navigating any criminal justice system can be a real challenge even in the best of circumstances, but if you are far from home it can be that much harder to avoid feeling overwhelmed. If you or someone you love has been arrested while out of town, there are a few important things to keep in mind.
What to do if you’ve been arrested while out of town:
Posting Bail
Once you’ve been arrested, the most immediate concern is of course how to get released. This can be a real challenge though if your family, your home, and even your support group are not close enough to help. For felonies, most courts will require that bail is posted. This is especially true if the defendant is from out-of-state, and may even be required for misdemeanors depending on your specific situation.
Bail is a fee that the defendant is expected to pay as a means of ensuring they will return to court to face charges. If they do return, the bail money will be refunded, but if the defendant chooses to post bail and leave the area without any follow-up, the court will keep that money and a bench warrant will be issued by a judge. Even if you do secure bail money for release though, there are some other important factors to think about.
Determine the Court’s Jurisdiction
If you or someone you know was arrested for a crime in another state or another county, then that is where you’ll need to be for any future court appearances. If you’ve been arrested, the courts and the local justice system will typically give little to no consideration for any personal challenges you might face. Regardless of where your home is, you will still be required to appear at every court date or risk losing your bail money on top having a bench warrant issued.
In this kind of situation, it is always important to retain the services of an attorney who has experience in the jurisdiction where you were arrested. For misdemeanors, your attorney may be able to attend required court dates in your place, which can make the entire process much simpler. For felonies, however, defendants are typically required to be physically present and every court date. Failure to appear can quickly spiral out of control by creating additional legal charges and even higher fees.
Leaving the Area Won’t Make the Charges Go Away
It can be tempting to find a way to pay off the bail fee and then return home as a way of avoiding any further trouble. This is one of the biggest mistakes people make though when facing out of town criminal charges. Because all fifty states work closely with each other to handle criminal justice, those charges won’t disappear just by leaving the area. This is especially true thanks to the power of modern technology.
It can even mean that your home state or county will receive a request from another state or county to have you arrested and extradited to their jurisdiction to face additional charges. This situation can quickly become very expensive, and the charges against you will face can be much worse than they would have been at first. Of all the options available for dealing with out of town criminal charges, simply leaving and hoping it will go away is the worst possible decision a person can make.
Remind Yourself Not to Panic and Contact A EZ Out Bail Bonds Instead!
Obtaining resources to cover bail on top of confronting your charges doesn’t have to be terrifying, even if it happens while you’re out of town. Our experienced team is always ready to help, and we can issue bonds at any time of the day or night. With fair payment plans and offices in multiple locations across the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, A EZ Out Bail Bonds is always ready to help individuals who need guidance and support to cover unexpected bail fees.