To seek release from jail after an arrest, you may have to communicate with various individuals, including friends/family, bail bond agents, and/or criminal defense lawyers. Providing clear information to these individuals can enable them to help get you out of police custody or build your legal strategy. During the process, you will also encounter various law enforcement officials who may be trying to get from you details about the alleged crime. Although communication is essential, speaking with officers about the incident might not be a good idea. They can use anything you say against you. To a similar end, oversharing with friends and family while you are in custody could also negatively affect your case.
At Andy Callif Bail Bonds, our Columbus team values straightforward communication throughout the bail bond process. Contact us at (614) 945-4334 today.
Who to Communicate With
You may want to talk with several key individuals following your arrest.
These include:
- Friends/family: The people close to you can be extremely helpful after you have been taken into custody. They may be the first you contact to explain what happened and ask for assistance getting bailed out of jail.
- Bail bond agent: Bail amounts can be high. You or your friends or family might not be able to afford the cost upfront. Thus, you may need to contact a bail bond agent for help getting out of pre-trial custody.
- Criminal defense attorney: An arrest occurs because you have been accused of a crime. You have the right to fight your charge. You can take on the justice system yourself, but it can be difficult. A defense lawyer can help you challenge the accusations against you.
Why Communication Is Important
Having straightforward conversations with certain individuals can be beneficial during the bail bond process in several ways.
Below are some of the reasons communication can be important:
- Support: Being arrested for a crime can be overwhelming. Talking about the circumstances to your friends and family can relieve stress. It can also make it easier to tackle the situation because you know you have a support system.
- Information exchange: You must have certain pieces of information, such as your booking number and the crime you have been arrested for, to post bail. Likely, your friends and/or family will be taking care of the bail bond process for you. You must give them clear and accurate details about your situation.
Likewise, the bail bond agent will need various information to get started securing your release from custody. The agent will also provide details about the bail bond process, ensuring that you understand the steps and what to expect.
- Understanding obligations: You and your loved ones must comply with various requirements when bailing out of jail. For instance, you may have a payment plan with the bail bond agency. Additionally, once you’re out on bail, you will have certain conditions you must adhere to. Straightforward communication with the bail bond agent, court personnel, and others ensure that you know what’s required of you and helps you avoid adverse actions against you.
- Telling your side of the story: If you’re working with a criminal defense attorney, you can give them your account of what happened and let them know your experiences, from the investigation to the charges being filed. The information can help them build a defense strategy for your unique circumstances.
Who Not to Communicate With
You will interact with law enforcement officials during the early stages of your case. They may ask you questions about the alleged offense. Police officers can make it seem like you are required to answer or that they are trying to help you and need every piece of information you can give them.
However, you have the right to remain silent and can keep quiet during interrogations. The right protects you from making self-incriminating statements, which could hurt your case. Although it can be difficult to assert your right, it’s important to do.
Avoid Oversharing with Friends and Family
After an arrest, you’ll likely want to share your side of the story with your loved ones. But doing so could also hurt your case. Law enforcement officials might overhear your conversations, and the details you give may be misconstrued and used against you.
When talking to friends and family, provide only enough information to allow them to work on securing your release from jail.
Contact Andy Callif Bail Bonds
To a point, clear communication is good during the bail bond process. It ensures that the right individuals get the information they need to help you and that you can effectively navigate the system.
Our Columbus team is here to listen and offer guidance when seeking pre-trial release. Speak with us by calling (614) 945-4334 or submitting an online contact form today.