Securing the release of your loved one is a frustrating task if you don't know the system. Allow me to guide you through the process. It is manageable and you will be kept informed of your options at each step of the process. Being arrested doesn't mean someone is guilty. They need to be released and continue with their lives while the legal system runs its course.
There are a few ways to be let out of jail.
The following is a non-exhaustive list of what must occur before the defendant can be released.
Each step of the process is susceptible to human error and there are legal obstacles that may keep your loved one in jail longer than necessary. That is why you should hire an attorney.
Keep in mind that the benefit of hiring an attorney is that they are able to speed up the process of a jail release by overcoming obstacles. An attorney can start the mechanisms of the release immediately because of their access to court documents, court personnel, and jail personnel. An attorney will talk to Pretrial Services and will then ask the judge for your release. Sometimes the court just needs to know that the defendant has an attorney and they will release the defendant.
The following are factors that may cause a delay in your loved one's release.
The defendant has pending charges.
Sometimes a judge will not approve the warrant for arrest which will cause the accused to be released.
Most bonds and misdemeanors run between $1,500 and $40,000. Assault and family violence cases usually have higher bonds.
Posting a bond yourself means that you put up the entire amount of the bond and the court keeps the money until your case is closed.
Hiring a bondsman means that a bondsman pays a fee to the court that secures the amount of the bond. You will more than likely pay the bondsman a percentage of the bond as a fee.
An accused may be let out of jail without the assistance of an attorney or bonding company.
Pretrial Services is a Travis County Agency whose primary purpose is to assist the magistrate in making a decision whether to release or detain the defendant in jail. Court-appointed attorneys, as well as hired attorneys, use Pretrial Services to get defendants out of jail.