There are many laws that we can break, and sometimes this will land us in trouble with the law. These crimes can range from something as small as forgetting to pay a parking ticket, protesting at a worthwhile movement, all the way to more serious crimes that may have hurt someone in the process.
If your loved one was arrested, then there are a few key ways that you can help.
Remind Them to Use Their Right to Stay Silent
If you are the first person that they call, remind them to not say anything incriminating. Calls to anyone except their lawyer can be monitored and will likely be used against them. There are only two pieces of information that you need to know — these are where they are and what the charge is.
Ensure They Hire a Lawyer
It is up to them to hire a lawyer themselves or to use the public defender. In both situations, they should not talk to the police until a lawyer is present. If they want to hire a lawyer, you can help them by finding a lawyer to hire on their behalf. When choosing, select a lawyer who has experience handling the specific type of case involved.
Wait for the Arraignment
The arraignment is where the charges are read out and your loved one will have the opportunity to plead guilty, not guilty, or no contest. It is here that the amount of bail is determined and set.
In some cases, there may be more conditions than just the bail amount. There may be extra steps a person needs to take, like checking in with their local police department once a day. The bail may even be denied if the charges are so severe that they pose a risk of fleeing the country or being a menace to society.
Get the Bail
If your loved one was set bail then you need to pay it. This can easily be done by contacting a bail bonds agency in your area. After filling out paperwork, your agent will then take the bail bond to the court and your loved one will be released. They will need to go back to the bail bond agency to finish completing the paperwork.
Attend All Court Dates
Your loved one must attend all court dates both for the sake of their case and to receive the money or collateral they put up for their bond back. With a good lawyer and a decent case, you should be able to reduce or get the charges dropped.
Provide Emotional Support
From there the best that you can do for your loved one is to be there for them. It can be very stressful to go through an arrest and face legal action, especially if they were innocent of the crime they were accused of. Provide emotional support if you can and generally try to just be there for them through this trying time.
