Deciding To Live On A Budget

After an arrest, you may have several choices to make. First among them is the issue of bail. If you are offered bail, paying a certain sum of money will get you out of jail. If you feel you cannot afford to pay bail, you might be tempted to remain behind bars. This is a bad decision for many reasons. Read on to find out why there is no place like home after an arrest.

You can stay employed – You will need to stay on top of your finances if you are to fight against a conviction. Lawyers cost money and most people need one to help get them through the complicated legal process. It can also help make you look better in the eyes of the judge and jury to stay employed, and you cannot do that if you are behind bars. No matter how innocent you may be, being arrested and charged with a crime can get expensive.

You can stay with your family – It can be particularly upsetting for younger children to be without their parent. Even older children can be traumatized by knowing their parent is jailed. Your presence in your loved one's life is vital.

Plea bargain better – Almost all criminal cases are now resolved using plea bargains. This means pleading guilty to and being sentenced while forgoing the jury trial. It saves time and money for everyone, but plea bargains are not always fair to the defendant. Unfortunately, those who remain behind bars may be that much more likely to accept a bad plea deal just to get out of jail.

You can get yourself and your family prepared – You might want to consider the worst-case scenario from a place of freedom. There is a chance you could be convicted of the crime charged, and it's important to plan ahead for the consequences. Talk to your lawyer about what might happen if things go south and be ready. For example, you might need to make arrangements to store your belongings if you must be incarcerated for a time.

You can stay away from dangerous jailhouse conditions and drama – Jails are crowded, dirty, noisy, and dangerous places. In addition, too many innocent people have been convicted on the word of so-called jailhouse snitches.

There is a simple solution to all of the above, and it doesn't involve paying a lot of money to the court system. Using a bail bond agency, you can be released from jail immediately by paying just a small percentage of the full bail owed. Speak to a bond company near the jail to find out how affordable and easy it can be to attain freedom while awaiting your trial.

Reach out to a professional who assists with bail bonds.