When someone you love is arrested, it can be stressful — especially if you don’t know what to expect. If you’ve received a call from them, you may have limited information to work with. If you forget to ask something or don’t get all the information you need, what can you do? You may not know where to start.
People get arrested every day, and you’re not alone in worrying about your loved one. Someone getting arrested can be hard a hard thing to deal with, especially when you care about them. Follow the steps in this article to navigate this stressful time.
How Do I Find Out if Someone Has Been Arrested?
How do I find someone who got arrested? Fortunately, technology has made it much easier to find someone who has been arrested. When an officer arrests an individual, they must complete an arrest report. Most cities and states have patrol cars with computers, so the information is easily transmitted to the police station.
Once the officer transports the person to their home police station, they will be booked and go to jail. This process includes taking their information (such as name and address), recording the initial charges, fingerprinting, and having their mug shot taken. Once this is finished, the information is logged into the jail’s database.
As soon as the information is in the database, friends and family members can visit the local government website. Some government websites have an ‘Arrests and Bail’ menu, which will also provide the information you’re searching for. Search by name and address to find out where your loved one is being held.
What to Do When Someone Is Arrested
After being arrested, your loved one will get one phone call. When they call you, it’s important they do not say anything incriminating. Phone calls can be monitored and recorded, and this information can be used against them. You can ask where they are being held and the charges, but avoid asking anything beyond that. Let them know you are taking care of things on the outside so you can get them out of jail as soon as possible.
1. Talk to the District Attorney’s Office
The DA’s office can tell you the time and date of your loved one’s arraignment and any other significant details about the case.
What happens when someone is arrested while driving? If your loved one was pulled over and arrested, you’d want to find out if their car was impounded and what a third party must do to release it.
2. Attend Arraignment Hearing
Once the person has been arrested, they will appear before a judge within 24 to 48 hours. They can plead guilty, not guilty, or no contest. The judge will set bail at that time, provided the courts don’t feel the person is a flight risk. The amount of bail depends on the charges — the more serious the crime, the higher bail that is typically set.
At that time, you can pay the bail in full to get your loved one released until their court date. Then, when they show up for court, you get your money back. If you don’t have the funds, you will want to contact a bail bond agent.
3. Contact A Bondsman
A bail bondsman is a person who will post bail for your loved one if you can’t afford to do so yourself. In most cases, they require 10% of the bond and paperwork to be filled out with your information. For example, if bail is set at $500, you would give them $50. This money is part of their fee, so you won’t get it back.
4. Hire an Experienced Attorney
What happens after someone is arrested will be determined at the court proceedings. Hiring a trusted criminal defense attorney can help improve the odds that your loved one builds the best possible case. An experienced lawyer understands the laws and your rights and can fight on your behalf.
Consult the Lawyers at the Law Offices of Seth Kretzer
When facing imprisonment, the life of your loved one is in your hands. With experienced and dedicated attorneys, our firm has the expertise to navigate your case from start to finish. Whether you are facing misdemeanor or felony charges, we offer personalized representation and superior legal counsel. You can expect honesty, integrity, and a commitment to achieving justice for all our clients!
If your loved one was arrested and needs legal help, please contact the Law Offices of Seth Kretzer today to schedule a consultation.
