How to Find Out if a Person Has Been Arrested in Indiana

Posted on May 6, 2015 by admin

Indiana Bail Bonds 317-876-9600

It isn’t the most pleasant situation for friends and family, but from time to time, even the most law-abiding citizen can get into trouble with the law. Being arrested doesn’t mean someone is a bad person. Arrests can happen to the best of us, whether it’s a boozy bachelor party that gets out of hand or a person that has one extra glass of wine, putting them over the legal driving limit. No matter which misdemeanor places a person in legal custody, the main objective for themselves and their family is to get out of jail.

Sometimes, a family is unsure whether or not their loved one has been arrested. They could be missing, or didn’t come home from the night before, in which case, a family would do what many do and call the local hospitals and jails. As for locating someone that has been arrested, there are a few easy ways to do this. Continue reading to learn how to figure out if someone is in jail.

Utilizing Available Resources

In the past, trying to locate a person in jail was much harder than it is today because there were only a few resources that existed and that were readily available to the public. Back then, in order to find out if a person had been arrested and which jail they held at, you would have the options of using the phone book or contacting the operator for jail and police department information. Now, a plethora of resources are available to us, including help lines, the internet, and local bail bond companies. Finding contact information for jails requires the simple touch of a fingertip these days.

One of the easiest and fastest methods to finding out if a person has been arrested and taken to jail is to call a local bail bond company. Sure, you could call the jails directly, but that is neither the fastest nor the easiest way of doing this. Calling a jail directly can lead to lengthy wait times, several automated menu selections, miscommunication, reaching the wrong department, losing the line, and more. Using a bail bond agency puts you in contact with a licensed and experienced bail bondsman that has close ties and connections to the local jails and courthouses. They can access arrest records faster than you can dial “1” for the jail operator.

Now, in order to find a reputable bail bondsman for this service is to look online. Since you might not know which county your loved one has been arrested in, you want to search for a bail bondsman in the city of the arrest, rather than searching through several counties. An Indianapolis Bail Bondsman can access arrest records for several surrounding counties, eliminating any guesswork on your behalf. Be sure your bail bond company of choice is licensed, bonded, and insured, and retains several positive reviews and experience in the industry. Do not use a fly-by-the-night bail bond agent, or an agency that is new to the community. This is because a reputable bail bondsman can not only provide information regarding a person’s arrest and whereabouts, they can also provide fast and secure releases from jail.

Indianapolis Bail Bonds

Woods Bail Bonds Indianapolis Indiana 317-876-9600

Call Woods Bail Bonds at 317-876-9600 for licensed, bonded, and insured Indianapolis bail bond services you can trust. Owner and licensed bail bondsman, James Woods Indianapolis Indiana, and his team of licensed bail agents, are extensively experienced in the industry, and provide services for several Indianapolis counties. We offer several types of bail bonds, including probation violation bonds, arrest warrants, pre-arranged bail bonds, immigration bonds, federal bonds, state bonds, county bonds, notary services, free jail pickup and drop-off services, free jail address information, and much more. Call 317-876-9600 and speak with a licensed Indianapolis bail bondsman for inmate search assistance and bail bond services.

Understanding Arrest Warrants and How They Work

Posted on April 8, 2015 by admin

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Arrest warrants, bail bonds, court dates, oh my! There is a lot to know if you have had a recent brush with the law. Typical arrest warrants are issued by the judge of the local courthouse, or the county in which the crime was committed. It permits the apprehension and incarceration of a person suspected of committing a crime, and requires them to answer to their crimes on a judge’s bench. This is why they are also called bench warrants.

There are several other types of warrants as well; some of which are not even for arrests. For example, search warrants only permit authorities to search a person’s property. In this situation, an arrest can only occur if illegal paraphernalia or activity is discovered. If you currently have a warrant issued in your name for your arrest in any Indiana counties, continue reading to learn what you can expect in the near future.

A Valid Arrest Warrant Meets the Following Criteria:

• Sufficient Probable Cause of Committed Crime
• Signature of an Impartial Magistrate and Arresting Officer
• Correlating Police Affidavit Does not Contain Any Lies or Inaccuracies
• Adequately Describes the Suspect to be Arrested
• Clearly Outlines the Details of the Crime
• States the Conviction, Case Type (i.e. felony, misdemeanor, etc.), Related Dates, and Outstanding Fines

All Public, County, and Local Jurisdiction Databases are Flagged:

• Police Records
• BMV’s
• National Crime Information Centers
• Public Records
• Place of Employment
• And More

Police Can Arrest You On the Spot:

• During a Routine Traffic Stop
• At Work
• At School
• If Applying for an I.D. or Drivers’ License
• At Home
• During Police Questioning
• At an Airport
• Train Station
• And More

If you have an arrest warrant and are discovered by police, you can expect to be taken to jail, then bonded out, then scheduled for a court date. If you turn yourself in, police will arrest you on the spot, and then you can call a bail bondsman to post bail immediately. Then you will be scheduled a court date as well.

Once you arrive at your court date, you will be given a chance to plead not guilty or guilty. If the judge determines you are guilty, they will immediately hand down a sentencing. For misdemeanors, the sentence is usually probation and sometimes correlated counseling, drug or traffic classes, and fines. For felonies, there is a chance of doing some time behind bars, as well as, probation and fines.

Woods Bail Bonds

Call Woods Bail Bonds at 317-876-9600 for accurate advice and information regarding probation violation bail bonds and arrest warrants in Indianapolis, Indiana. Owner James Woods, and our team of Indianapolis bail bondsmen, are licensed, bonded, and insured with decades of experience in the industry. Our agents retain good-standing relationships with local jails and courts, and can facilitate a fast and secure release from jail in several Indiana counties. Call 317-876-9600 for details about our 24 hour bail bond services in Indianapolis, IN today.

How to Post Your Own Bail For an Outstanding Arrest Warrant

Posted on January 2, 2015 by admin

Indianapolis Bail Bonds 317-876-9600

In many unfortunate circumstances, a person has to rely on their own personal resources and abilities to get bailed out of jail. If you are facing a misdemeanor charge and have an active warrant out for your arrest, it is time to think about turning yourself in to the authorities. The sooner you turn yourself in, the sooner you can be done with the entire ordeal. With these tips on how to post your own bail, you can feel comfortable knowing what to expect and how to care for yourself in this restless and frustrating situation.

Posting Bail

If you are waiting to turn yourself in for an outstanding arrest warrant, you are making the responsible choice. The longer you avoid this responsibility, the longer the entire legal process will take. When you first decide to turn yourself in to the jail, consult a lawyer or public defender for advice and counsel. They can instruct you on how to facilitate the best process for your particular charge and criminal record. Many public defenders and lawyers will give you free advice and consultation, so take advantage of this resource wherever you can. Every case is different, so talking to a professional about each circumstance is a huge advantage before facing your warrant. Usually, for first-time offenders and minor legal infractions, the jail and bond process are quick and simple. But as mentioned, all cases are different and become more complex depending on an individual’s prior criminal history.

Once you consult a lawyer or public defender, be sure to strictly follow their instructions, and everything should work itself out the way they described it to you in your meeting. If you cannot afford or find a legal consultant, you can still get out of jail on your own. Continue reading and learn the basics on how to bail yourself out of jail.

How to Post Bail

Once you have decided to turn yourself in to authorities, first call a local bail bond agency nearest to the jail you are turning yourself into. Talking to them first will get your foot in the door when it comes to processing all the paperwork. In some cases, the bail bond agent will have you fill out all the necessary paperwork and pay your fee, then walk or drive you to the jail themselves to finish your processing. Otherwise, they will have you complete all the paperwork and give you the instructions you need to feel comfortable going to the jail afterwards.

Once you walk into the jail and tell the desk officer you are turning yourself in for an outstanding warrant, they will take you from there and give you all the instruction you need. You will then wait to go through an entire processing routine. They will take your picture, fingerprints, book you, and more.

When you are finished being processed, the bail bond agency will facilitate your release and pick you up from the jail. Because you completed your paperwork ahead of time, you will be one step closer to completing the whole process. If you are unable to file paperwork before turning yourself in, it is not a big deal. The bail bondsman will simply take you back to their office and have you complete the forms then. Depending on the amount of traffic in the jail and the number of employees to defendants, the process can take 1-10 hours, and sometimes more. Generally, on a non-drug related charge, you can be expelled in just a few hours with the right bail bondsman. In even minor cases, you can be in and out in under an hour. If you are intoxicated, the law requires you to be sober for processing and booking. So wait until you are sober before turning yourself into jail, otherwise you will sit for at least 8 hours before they even consider processing you.

Woods Bail Bonds

Woods Bail Bonds Indianapolis Indiana 317-881-2700

Call Woods Bail Bonds at 317-876-9600 and speak with James Woods, licensed bail bondsman in Indianapolis, Indiana. He and his team of licensed, bonded, and insured bail agents are friendly and extensively experienced in the indemnity industry. You can feel calm and comfortable speaking with them about your bail bond needs or questions, and know you are getting accurate answers and information. Call 317-876-9600 and learn about arrest warrants and our 24 hour bail bond services in Indianapolis, IN today.

Steps to Bailing Someone Out of Jail

Posted on December 23, 2014 by admin

The process of bailing someone out of jail is a short one; but it can also be an easy one if you are familiar with all the steps that are involved. In most cases, a person uses a bail agency to obtain a bail bond in order to get a loved one or co-worker out of jail. This is the circumstance in which these steps apply. Continue reading to learn the process of using a bail bond to get you or a friend out of jail.

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Discovering an Arrest

The first step to bailing a friend or loved one from jail is receiving the phone call that they have been arrested. Whether it is a friend or officer that is informing you of this news, be sure to get as much information as you can from them. This includes the county or district they were arrested in, the charges against them, reason for arrest, and anything else relevant to the arrest.

If you cannot get all this information, you will have to find out which jail they are in on your own. You begin by calling the jail that is closest to the site of the arrest. If you do not know the site of the arrest, you will need to call all the jails within the surrounding counties in your state. In most cases people are arrested closer to home. Once you figure out which jail they are in, you can move onto the next step, which is figuring out a bail preference.

Bail Options

Deciding on bail options is simple. All you have to do is play the elimination game. If you have cash that you are willing to put up for their release, and you trust that the person will show up for their court hearings, then you can pay for their bond, in full, with cash. If this is not an option, then cross it off your list and move onto the next. A person can put up their property, home, company, cars, and any other asset that equals the amount of their bond. You risk losing this property if the arrestee fails to appear for their legal hearings. If this is not an option, then cross it off and move onto the most common method to obtaining a loved one’s release from jail, a bail bond agent.

Using a Bail Bond

A bail bondsman will charge you only a percentage of the defendant’s bond amount, making it much more affordable for people to be bailed from jail. The state regulated percentages are anywhere between 10 and 15 percent of the total bond amount. If a bond was $5000, rather than paying that price in full, a person has the option to pay a bail bond agency anywhere from $500 to $750 and get their loved one or friend released from jail. The only negative to using a bail bond agent is the fact that the fee you pay is non-refundable.

If you were to choose the above options, all paid money would be returned to you after the arrestee has finished all their legal obligations. It is just uncommon for people to have that kind of cash on hand and not tied up. Although the money is not refundable, bail bondsmen are the quickest and least stressful way to obtain bail for a person in jail. Once you have decided on a bail bondsman, you can begin the actual bail process. Find a bail agent that is near the jail and meets all your needs.

For example, if it is in the middle of the night, you will need a bail bond company that is open 24 hours. Look for these qualities when searching for a bail bond agency. Once you choose a bail bondsman to hire, you will find yourself in the next step of the process, the bail.

Bail Bond Process

The bail bondsman will require you to fill out a series of paperwork and ask you to sign all the necessary documents and contracts required by their company to pursue the bail. By signing these documents and contracts, you are legally obligating your own money to the jail and the company if the person does not obey their court hearings. Although you are only paying $500 to get them released from jail, you will have to pay the remaining $4500 if they fail to appear for court or jeopardize their own legal obligations. It is important to bail someone you love and trust from jail because it can be a risk. Once the paperwork and contracts are signed, the bail bond agent will collect the bail money; usually in the form of a check or money order, but most accepts credit cards.

After all this is done, you will have to wait, depending on the charges, for the jail to come through and process the arrestee through the system. The speed at which they are processed depends on the traffic coming though the jail and the efficiency of the jail workers. If your friend or loved one was arrested on an intoxication charge, most states require them to “sober up” for at least eight hours before beginning the processing. Once they are processed, they are eligible for release.

When your friend or loved one has finally been released from the jail, you can pick them up at the designated pickup area in the jail. In some cases, the bail bond agent will be required to pick them up and bring them back to the bail bond office. Once there, they will be required to sign a few documents acknowledging the bail and committing to the information that had been provided for them. After that, you are free to go home where you will wait for a letter from the courts in the mail. This letter has further instructions and hearing information for the arrested.

Hamilton County Bail Bond Services

James Woods Indianapolis Indiana 317-876-9600

Call Woods Bail Bonds at 317-876-9600 to bail a friend out of jail in Hamilton County, Indiana today. Owner and licensed bail bondsman, James Woods, and his team of licensed, bonded, and insured bail bondsmen are happy to answer your questions about being arrested in Noblesville, Fishers, or Carmel, IN, or any other Indiana city or town. We can offer the fastest and most secure released from jail because we retain long-standing, positive relationships with local courthouses and jails. We offer free jail pickup and drop off services, a wide range of bonds, emergency bail bonds, notary services, free jail information, inmate searches, and much more. Call 317-876-9600 for more information about bail bonds in Hamilton County, IN and its surrounding counties and municipalities.

Additional Uses for Arrest Warrants

Posted on November 25, 2014 by admin

Arrest warrants are frequently used in criminal cases for people that break the law or disobey court orders. Occasionally, there are other reasons and circumstances that call for arrest warrants, even if a crime has not yet been committed. Continue reading to learn when a person might have a warrant out for their arrest, even if they haven’t yet committed a crime or neglected court orders.

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Suspects

If a crime is committed, detectives and other police task forces work diligently to find clues that help them solve the case. Fingerprints, email, postal mail, social media, articles of clothing, and more are all considered leads or evidence at a crime scene. If these articles or sources belong to a person that is not involved in the crime, police will still place a warrant out for their arrest if they refuse to come in voluntarily for questioning. Suspects of a crime can, and will, have a warrant issued for their arrest if they are thought to be part of or involved in a crime scene in any way.

Witnesses

Another scenario in which a person can have a warrant out for their arrest without breaking the law is if they are thought to be a witness in a big crime case. A person has to refuse to help police with evidence of a case before they are slapped with an arrest warrant. Also, they have to be thought to be a crucial witness in order to have a judge agree to place a warrant out for their arrest. If all of these things flow the right way, there could be a warrant for arrest on a person that has witnessed a major crime.

Neglecting Court Orders and Obligations

Skipping a court date, not paying taxes, ignoring restraining orders, and committing any type of crime can also get a person an arrest warrant. If there is a warrant out for a person’s arrest, they can simply call an Indianapolis bail bond company to help them set up a time to turn themselves into police. Some bail bondsmen offer services to pick up and drop off customers at jail. The bail bondsman will cover their entire bond amount for a small non-refundable service fee that is set at a regulated percentage mandated by law. Then they can be released from jail until their scheduled court date, if they even have a court date assigned to them.

Woods Bail Bonds

Woods Bail Bonds Indianapolis Indiana 317-881-2700

Call Woods Bail Bonds at 317-876-9600 for more information about bail bonds in Indianapolis, IN. Owner and licensed bail bondsman, James Woods, and his team of highly trained and licensed bail agents, are happy to answer your bail bond questions, any time. Our services include but are not limited to: probation violation bail bonds, arrest warrant bail bonds, notary services, immigration bonds, federal bonds, surety bonds, cash bonds, state bonds, appeal bonds, property bonds, and emergency bonds. We also offer free jail information, inmate searches, jail pickup and drop off services, and much more. Call 317-876-9600 and speak with a friendly and knowledgeable Indianapolis bail bondsman today.

Bail Bonds for DUI Arrests

Posted on September 18, 2014 by admin

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Nothing is more troubling than making that one bad decision that lands you in jail for the weekend; were talking about drinking and driving. DUI arrests can happen to anyone, and can add considerable stress and humiliation in a person’s life. Making the choice to drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol is never a responsible one, but sometimes even the most straight-winged individual is capable of doing so at some point in their lives. No one is perfect and mistakes happen to the best of us. Life is a learning experience, and receiving DUI charge is a lesson in itself. Repeat DUI offenders are strongly encouraged to receive help for addiction. Many people who are arrested for drinking and driving charges want to know how to get out of jail with a bail bond.

Continue reading to learn more about the DUI arrest and bail bond process, and who to call for accurate answers to your bail questions.

DUI Bail Bonds

As soon as you are aware that a relative or loved one has been detained for driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, it is strongly encouraged to seek the services of a reputable and licensed bail bondsman. Contact a local Indianapolis bail bond company once you receive news of an arrest to start the process of arranging bail. Bail bonds can be prearranged for people who need to turn themselves in for an arrest warrant. This could be the case if someone was already released from jail on bail and then breaks the law while waiting for their court date. They would need to turn themselves into authorities and prearranged bail bonds can facilitate this process swiftly and securely. For standard DUI arrests, emergency bail bond services are available.

When it comes to the cost of bail bonds, the fees differ from county to county; but all are state-regulated so that one bail bondsman cannot charge more than another. The Indiana state regulated bail bond fee is 10 to 15 percent. This means bail bond agencies can charge anywhere from ten to fifteen percent of a person’s bond amount, depending on the level of risk and a person’s criminal history. With this said, you can expect to pay a bail bondsman 10 to 15 percent of your loved one’s total bond amount. For example, if the total bond amount is 5,000 dollars, and the bail agent is charging a 10% fee, the non-refundable payment would be 500 dollars. At 15%, the charge would be 750 dollars. This is a non-refundable fee that has to be paid directly to the bail bondsmen before any services are rendered. If the defendant fails to obey the law or rules of the bail bond contract, the person who signs for the bail bond is responsible to pay the rest of the total bond amount unless the defendant turns themselves into authorities. In this case, an arrest warrant would be issued to detain the defendant.

Process for a DUI Arrests and Bail Bonds:

Sobriety Testing and Arrest

When a person is pulled over for suspicion of driving drunk, the officer will implement a field sobriety test or breathalyzer test to assess a person’s sobriety. If the person is suspected or proven to be intoxicated, the officer will then put then under arrest. They will be handcuffed, read their rights, and placed in the back of the arresting officer’s squad car.

Booking and Processing

Once the defendant is placed in custody, they are taken to the local county jail. Here they will be processed into the jail’s system. Fingerprints, mug shot, data entry, and more are all pieces of information collected at the time of booking. Once booking is complete, the defendant will have the opportunity to make a phone call and get bailed out of jail. The time it takes to get bailed out of jail is usually only an hour or so. The part that takes so long is waiting to be booked. If a person is arrested on intoxication charges, they must sit in jail for at least 8 hours to sober up before officers will being the booking process. This in combination with the level of traffic and an inmate’s behavior will influence the amount of time they wait for processing.

Setting Bail

When it comes to a person’s bond being set, first time offenders usually fall under 10,000 dollars. Repeat offenders or accident cases can face much higher bond amounts, often times in the hundreds of thousands. This is when collateral bail bonds are sometimes used. A bail bondsman can be called by the defendant themselves inside the jail to bail themselves out; or a friend or family member can make the call and start the bail bond process for them. Either way, a non-refundable fee is paid to the bail bondsman and a contract is signed. The defendant will then be released to await their scheduled hearing at home.

Woods Bail Bonds

Woods Bail Bonds Indiana 317-876-9600

Call 317-876-9600 to speak with James Woods, owner of Woods Bail Bonds in Indianapolis, Indiana. We offer fast and friendly Indianapolis bail bond services you can trust. Our licensed and bonded bail agents have more than 30 years of experience in the industry, and offer reputable and secure bail bond services 24 hours a day and 7 days a week for several Indiana counties. Call 317-876-9600 to bail a friend out of jail in Indianapolis, IN right now.

Discount Bail Bonds are a Myth!

Posted on August 21, 2014 by admin

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Most bail bondsmen have encountered a caller inquiring about discount bail bonds and services. In fact, most bail bond agencies get calls like this on a weekly basis! So why do people believe there are discounts available for bail bond services? Who says there’s such a thing as discount bail bonds? The answer is too difficult to come by; however, exposing the truth about discount bail bonds is simple.

It is important to trust your bail bondsman, and ensure you are getting professional service and honest information. Reputation, experience, and credentials are all clues that can better reveal the trustworthiness of a bail bond company. Continue reading to learn what you need to know, once and for all, about discounted bail bonds and bail bond services.

What are Discount Bail Bonds?

Discount bail bonds are a myth! Even though it’s no secret that bail bonds are a price-regulated industry, there are still several people that believe they can purchase bail bonds at a discounted rate. This is because people grasp onto the idea that, even though all bail bond agencies are mandated to charge the same rates, they can eventually find a company that will “make them a deal” or cut them a break in price. Sorry folks, but this is simply not true. Discounting bail bonds and related services is illegal; end of story. No bail bondsman is going to put their livelihood on the line for a stranger that insists on a price-reduction for their services. Believing that discount bail bonds exist is like believing the same about unicorns and fairies!

Deceptive Bail Bonds

If you ever see a bail bond company advertising rates lower than ten percent, they are being deceptive. In the state of Indiana, bail bond companies are permitted to charge anywhere from 10-15% of a person’s total bond amount. For example, if a defendant’s total bond amount is $5,000, a bail bondsman can charge them anywhere between $500 and $750 (non-refundable) for a bail bond. The bail bondsman covers the rest of the bail amount, and receives this money back when the defendant appears for their scheduled court hearing. If the defendant fails to appear, an arrest warrant is issued, and the bail bond company investigates their whereabouts so they do not forfeit the money put up for that person’s bail. Sound familiar?

If you ever come across bail bond advertisements that claim having cheaper bail bond rates and discounted prices, they are not giving you all the information. What they are selling, instead, is a discounted rate for putting money down on a payment plan. No matter what, a person will always pay the full ten to fifteen percent of the total bail amount. Depending on the risk, a bail bond company will charge either closer to ten, or closer to fifteen percent. Keep in mind that any bail bond company attempting to sell, or even advertise, cheaper rates for bail bonds, they are breaking the law and should not be trusted. They can face massive fines, apprehensions, and prosecution for numerous civil and criminal penalties.

Woods Bail Bonds

Call Woods Bail Bonds at 317-876-9600 for more information about bail bonds in Indianapolis, Indiana and its surrounding counties. James Woods, owner and operator, has more than 30 years of experience and provides licensed bail bond services in several Indiana cities and counties. He and his team of highly trained and licensed bail bondsmen are eager to help you or a loved on obtain a safe and secure release from jail. Call 317-876-9600 and speak with a live, friendly bail bondsman in Indianapolis, IN today.