Getting a call from jail and learning that your teenager has been arrested is a nightmare for many parents. While no one wants their child to be arrested for a crime, the important thing is to remain calm and work closely with a local bail bond company to ensure your child is released from jail promptly. If you find yourself in this difficult situation, be sure to follow these three tips:
Gather as Much Information as Possible
Before calling the bail bond company, it's important to gather all of the relevant information you can. Having this information on hand will streamline the bail bonds process, which will help get your teen out of jail faster. You should speak to your teenager if they are able to call you, and if not you should speak to someone working at the jail.
Find out where your child is being held, if they have already been officially charged by the police, and if so, what the exact charges are. Write all of this information down so you can repeat it accurately when talking to the bail bond company.
Call a Bail Bonds Company
In most arrests, even for teens, a judge will set a bail amount that allows your teen to leave jail. For a fee, a bail bond company will pay this bail for you and guide you through the entire process, including any paperwork you need to fill out.
Unless you can afford the cost of the bail, the bail bond company will ask for collateral, such as the title of your vehicle. While this may seem scary, any collateral you offer the bail bond company will be returned to you as long as your teen attends all mandatory court dates.
Call an Attorney
Finally, it's important to call an attorney who will collaborate with the bail bond company and also represent your child at their court hearings. In many cases, an attorney will have the expertise to help get your child's charges and penalties reduced. They will also ensure your teen stays on schedule with any court hearings, helping ensure that your bail bond collateral is returned without any issues.
Learning that your child has been arrested is a scary experience, but you and your family will get through it. Simply follow the tips in this article and work closely with a trusted local bail bond company to make the process as easy as possible.
For more information about bail bonds, contact a local company.
