Has a close friend or a loved one recently been arrested in Hamilton County and now you want to know what happens next? The arrest and release process in Indiana works a little different in each county and each jurisdiction. Continue reading to learn about a recent case Woods Bail Bonds handled in Hamilton County, IN.

Hamilton County DUI Case

Recently we placed a bond for a girl here in Hamilton County that claimed she was pulled over for speeding. The officer on duty asked her if she knew why she was being stopped; her reply was that she didn’t know. The police officer informed the girl that she was driving 45 in a 40 zone. He then asked her if she had been drinking. She admittedly told the cop that she had a couple of drinks early in the evening.

At this point, police are obligated to make sure a person is not over the legal alcohol limit while driving. So from there, the officer administered a field breathalyzer test, informing her that it was not exactly accurate but would give him a good idea on whether or not she needs to be taken to jail for further testing. If a person blows over a .08 alcohol level, they are considered intoxicated by law. She tested .08, and then was transported to Hamilton County Jail. Once there, she was administered a second breathalyzer test on a different machine that the officers claimed would give a more precise reading of her toxicity levels. Unfortunately, the girl tested at a .09% and was immediately placed under arrest. She was placed in a holding cell commonly referred to as the “drunk tank”, and forced to turn over all of her personal property she had on hand. She was told that she would have to wait at least 6 hours before she would be sober enough to be released from jail.

Hours later, the girl was removed from the holding cell and processed; meaning they took her finger prints and her picture, and then extensively questioned. Her bond was set by a judge at $2,500 and was notified that she needed to get a hold of a bail bondsman, or pay the entire amount with cash. She asked them if she could be released on her own and their reply was that she “wasn’t in Marion County”.

Hamilton County Bail Bond Process

A pre-established bail schedule is used to set your bond. This schedule is formulated by the local courts so you are able to post bail before actually appearing before a judge. The types of charges and even where you live can be taken into consideration. For example, out of state residents are likely to be considered a greater risk for failure to appear.

If a surety bond is allowed, a bail agent can post a surety bond on the defendant’s behalf. The agent’s company then takes responsibility for making sure they appear in court. This means all dates until the case is over. A cash bond is paid directly to the jail. When posting a surety bond with a bail agent normally an “indemnitor” will be required to sign for financial responsibility. This can be a family member, employer or close friend. The indemnitor helps indemnify the surety against loss. It also provides a sense of responsibility for the defendant since they know a family member or friend will bear financial loss. There are a lot of times we will post bonds on defendants and let them sign for themselves.

Any OWI or DUI arrests will have an additional schedule that calculates when a defendants BAC (blood alcohol content) will be metabolized low enough to allow for a safe release. If the defendant is arrested on a warrant out of a different court jurisdiction he will be jailed in the arresting officer’s jail. Then normally transported back to the jail by the original law enforcement authorities; and they will not tell you when that will happen for security reasons. This can take days.

Hamilton County Bail Bonds

If you have more questions about the bail bond process in Hamilton County, Indiana and all over Indianapolis, ask James Woods, owner of Woods Bail Bonds. You can reach him and his team at 317-876-9600 for the most accurate and up-to-date information about bail bonds in Indiana. Him and our team of licensed bail agents are friendly and there for you in your time of need. We are happy to take your call 24/7, day or night. When it comes to getting bailed out of Hamilton County Jail, trust us for fast and courteous service.