Posting Bail Is Worth More Than Just Your Freedom
If you happen to get arrested, your first and dominant thought is probably going to be how you can get yourself out of jail as quickly as possible. In this predicament, most people will choose to make a phone call to someone who can post your bail. Your bail will be set by a judge, and the amount required will be based on the judge's assessment of whether or not you can be trusted to return to court for your next scheduled appearance. You can either find someone to bring the entire amount of the bail, or you can ask someone to get a bail bond from a bond service. Lawyers.com reports that bail bonds are typically 10% of the total bail amount but may be as high as 15%. There are several reasons to post your bail rather than waiting for your court case. The most obvious is to get out of jail and attain your freedom. Here are some more reasons to keep in mind.
Keep Your Job
Getting released from jail gives you the opportunity to stay employed in your current job. This is especially important when you are in legal trouble because you're going to need as much cash flow as possible in order to pay your lawyer.
It also looks better to the court if you have a job, especially if you've been working at the same job for a long time.
Keep Your Children
Finding someone to take care of your kids while you are in jail can be tricky. Sometimes child protective services will not allow you to place your children with relatives, and kids end up in foster care.
It can be incredibly difficult to keep your family together while you are in jail, and your children can suffer significant emotional damage during your absence. If you can post your bail, you can avoid these issues and take care of your family.
Plan Your Defense
You might actually find that being released on bail is the key to your permanent freedom. It is much easier to plan a criminal defense while you are not incarcerated. Obtaining a lawyer and having the opportunity to speak to that attorney can be extremely difficult within the strict boundaries of a jail. Getting yourself out on bail can mean the difference between a good defense and a bad one.
Save Your Reputation
People tend to find out quickly when someone is spending time in jail, and being arrested can have negative consequences even if you are never convicted of the crime. Simply being arrested for a criminal act can put your job at risk. It can also cause people to force you out of powerful positions or avoid being in your company.
The best way to protect your privacy is to bail yourself out with the help of a company like All Star Bail Bonds and get back to your life as soon as possible. If you are showing up to your regular activities and don't tell anyone that you have been arrested, you might be able to keep the whole incident a secret.
Facing criminal charges can be extremely stressful, and it makes sense for you to do everything you can to minimize the damage to your life, reputation and family. In most cases it makes sense to post your bail or get a bond from a bail bonds service as soon as possible to avoid spending any more time behind bars than absolutely necessary. If you can get your hands on enough money to buy your temporary freedom, or if you can get a friend or family member to bail you out of jail, you should take advantage of that right away. From there you can turn your thoughts to defending yourself in court and putting the whole situation behind you.