How Friends or Family Can Assist Someone Recently Arrested

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How Friends or Family Can Assist Someone Recently Arrested

friends family assist arrested

In many cases, those who have been arrested will look to friends or family members to assist them with certain elements of this situation. There’s only so much that can be done from inside a jail cell, and if a friend or family member of yours was recently arrested, they may call on you to assist them.

At Beehive Bail Bonds, we regularly work with the friends or family of those who have been incarcerated to secure 24/7 bail bonds, or for other needs like contacting local defense attorneys. What are some of the top ways friends or family members can assist those who have been recently arrested, including in ways that don’t require any financial commitment from the friend or family member in question? Here’s a primer.

Help With Bail Bonds

One of the top elements typically on the mind of anyone who has been arrested is securing their release from jail as quickly as possible, and bail bonds are one of the most direct ways to accomplish this goal. The faster they are able to be released, the faster their legal defense can begin, and they will have more sources available for them as well.

This involves contacting and working with a bail bond agency, a process where friends or family members can be a tremendous asset. In many cases, the friend or family member of the person who has been arrested will actually need to come to the jail in order to sign any necessary paperwork and secure their release.

There may even be cases where the friend or family member puts up funds as a sort of collateral, understanding that those funds may or may not be recovered at the end of the case depending on what happens. In some cases, loved ones are able to assist with this as well by co-signing any necessary documents related to securing a bail bond. Of course, if you’re a friend or family member considering such an action, you should take great care to think about whether you can truly trust the person you’re bailing out. If it’s a family member, that trust is probably inherent, but with friends or more casual acquaintances, some extra caution might be in order.

Help Finding a Lawyer

Another area where a friend or family member can be very helpful to an individual who has been recently arrested is helping them find a reputable defense attorney. This person will need the best legal representation they can manage to secure, and this might be somebody you’re close with or somebody you know through work or just from around town if your friend or family member was arrested in an area where you don’t live.

Those accused of crimes often do extensive research online before they find the attorney that is right for them, but this isn’t possible if you’re in jail. In these cases, a friend or family member can help by reaching out to a number of local attorneys and explaining the situation before making a recommendation. This will be particularly helpful if it’s a complicated case where the accused should seek out specific expertise to ensure their best outcome.

Gathering Other Information

In many cases, simply gathering important information for the person in jail can be hugely helpful. Things like getting in touch with their employer to let them know what’s happened, checking in with family members who might also need some update on the situation, and so forth.

It may also be prudent for a friend or family member to get all the information about any activities that led up to the arrest, plus the arrest itself. This may help the accused person craft a better defense going forward.

Probation Support

In many situations where someone you know has been arrested, the eventual outcome of their case will involve some form of probation. Whether this is probation before sentencing or probation after they serve their sentence, you can help by providing them with support during the period of time in question.

This often includes helping them with any necessary conditions of their probation, but it might also involve checking in on them periodically to ensure things are going well and making sure they hold up their end of the bargain. For instance, someone arrested for a drug-related crime might need to stay sober as a condition of their probation, but may find this difficult for any number of reasons. If you’re close to them, you can take it upon yourself to provide them with the support they need to keep sober and comply with their legal obligations.

General Support

Finally, in many situations what your friend or loved one really needs is just some basic emotional support. Being arrested is a very traumatic experience, but it can be even more difficult if you’re separated from your family and friends at the time.

Being there for them in these situations will go a long way toward helping them get through this ordeal with as few scars as possible. One of the most important ways you can support them is by being available to talk, whether via phone or in person. When you’re there for them during stressful times, they’ll remember how much you helped them through this experience and be grateful for your support. Even if you’re unable to provide direct financial or legal assistance, your presence alone can mean everything.

For more on how friends and family can assist someone who has recently been arrested, or to learn about any of our bail bond agents or other services, speak to the staff at Beehive Bail Bonds today.