One of the most common, and important, questions arrestees face after the booking and processing procedure is who to call first: a lawyer or a bail bondsman? Ideally you’ll want both, but not everyone has the means or ability to obtain both legal counsel and a bail bond immediately after their arrest. That being said, below are the reasons why calling a bail bondsman and getting out of jail first can be beneficial.
It Can Affect Your Charges
Generally speaking, when someone is incarcerated, it puts the prosecutor at an advantage. They know the defendant wants to get out of jail, so they’ll usually offer some sort of plea bargain. Defendants, desperate to get out of jail, will often plead guilty to lesser charges to do so – even if they didn’t commit a crime in the first place.
When a defendant is free from custody, prosecutors know they are at a disadvantage and, as a result, will sometimes decline to file charges at all. This is not always the case, and a lot depends on the nature of the crime and the circumstances surrounding it. That being said, freedom from custody can help take the pressure off when it comes to plea deals.
Bail Bonds Can Keep You Out of County Jail
When someone is arrested they usually wind up in a local police station jail. They’ll stay there for up to three days before being transferred to one of the larger jails in downtown L.A. Once there, it can take up to 24 hours to be processed in and another 24 hours to be processed out (once bail is posted) depending on how busy the jail is.
Working with a bail bondsman can get your friend or loved one out of jail before they are transferred, saving them precious time in custody.
You Can Spend Time Choosing a Lawyer
By calling a bail bondsman and getting your friend or loved one out of jail, they can then spend time looking for a good lawyer to handle their case. When in custody, defendants frequently experience difficulty in finding and hiring a lawyer other than one provided by the court. When not in custody, the search is much easier and less stressful.
Of course, everyone’s circumstances are different, and what works best for one person may not work best for another. Everyone must choose what they feel is the best option for them at the time.
