Receiving a call that one of your loved ones has been arrested is a call that no one wants to receive. Sometimes, getting your loved one home can be the top priority. Before you give yourself over to stress, here are three tips to handle a loved one’s arrest.
Stay Calm
The best thing that you can do for yourself and the defendant is to stay calm. The calmer that you are, the more likely you are to be able to handle the situation thoughtfully. Make sure that you have all of the necessary information about the crime your loved one is accused of, his or her case number, and whether or not the bail rate has been set.
Contact a Lawyer
Even if you are not accused of the crime yourself, you can contact a lawyer for the defendant. In some cases, he or she may ask you to do so. When you call the lawyer, you can also find out your rights as someone who cares about the defendant.
Call a Bondsman
In a lot of cases, defendants cannot afford to pay their own bail. It may feel like the system is designed against you, even if you believe in your loved one’s innocence, he or she may still have a bail rate that seems impossible to pay. Fortunately, you do not have to put forward the entire amount. If money is an issue, companies who specialize in bail bonds Allentown PA residents trust can provide the funds. You pay a percentage to the bondsman.
When a loved one has been arrested, it can be a stressful time for everyone involved. This is especially true when you want to do everything possible to help him or her. After an arrest, try to stay calm and think clearly about your options. While there are going to be somethings that are out of your hands, you can help the defendant too.
