How Long Does it Take to Get Out of Jail?

Posted on June 23, 2014 by admin

Bail Bonds Indianapolis 317-876-9600

This is a very vague question, but popular none-the-less. Every person that gets arrested, or has an arrest warrant, wants to know how long it will take to go to jail, be processed, and get bailed out or released. The answer to this inquiry varies, greatly. The amount of time it takes to get out of jail is mostly inconsistent because it depends on various factors. In general, there are time ranges that can be appointed to different types of arrests. To learn these, continue reading and then contact a local and trusted
bail bond agent for assistance and information.

Infraction, Misdemeanor, or Felony Arrest

There are three different categories of criminal offenses; infractions, misdemeanors, and felonies. If arrested for a felony, bail is generally denied; especially if the defendant is a repeat offender. Some cases, a lawyer can get a court to grant bail for a felony arrest. It is not likely though. An infraction is the least serious criminal offense, usually resulting in a small fine. Examples of infractions include traffic tickets and violations, j-walking, and other equally non-serious criminal disobedience’s.

Misdemeanors are the middle-of-the-road criminal offenses, often times resulting in an arrest and subsequent penalties; such as fines, probation, court hearings, community services, and more. Infractions do not call for jail time; but misdemeanors are punishable by up to one year in jail depending on the nature of the crime and a defendant’s criminal history.

Misdemeanor arrests include transgressions like operating a vehicle under the influence of a drug or alcohol, assault, battery, shoplifting, vandalism, trespassing, and more. So when it comes to jail time for the actual offense committed, a prosecutor and judge will eventually decide a sentence through a succession of court hearings. As for getting out of jail after being initially arrested for a misdemeanor, it really depends on three factors.

The amount of traffic inside a jail, the behavior of a detainee, and the sobriety of a detainee will determine how long it takes to make bail after an arrest. If a person is arrested on intoxication charges, or arrested under the influence of drugs or alcohol, they cannot be legally process, let alone discharged, until they are completely sober. The standard wait time is 8 hours to ensure sobriety. So if you are arrested under the influence, you have to wait at least 8 hours before being processed and booked by the jail staff. Once this is done, you should be eligible for bail. If a person is arrested sober, they can immediately get bailed out as soon as they are done being processed and booked. The amount of time this takes depends on the next two factors.

If a jail is extremely busy, or understaffed, it will take longer for the jail staff to get every inmate booked and processed into the database. If a jail staff is particularly moody one day, they may also take longer; whereas, they may work much faster if in good spirits and well-staffed. These variables all contribute to the speed at which a person can get out of jail. If the jail is slow or amply-staffed, it may be as little as one hour for a sober detainee to be released from jail!

Bad behavior is one of the most common factors that contribute to the amount of time a person has to wait in order to get out of jail. Disorderly conduct, foul language, aggression, disobedience, and more can all get a person put in solitary confinement. This means waiting hours longer to be approved for processing and booking. Being rude and defiant with jail staff and police will get a person nowhere, fast. The best way to get out of jail as soon as possible is to sober up, be respectful, and wait your turn patiently. The next step is calling a respected and professional bail bondsman.

Indianapolis Bail Bonds

Woods Bail Bonds 317-876-9600

Call James Woods, owner and operator of Woods Bail Bonds in Indianapolis, Indiana. You can reach him or o of his highly trained and licensed bail agents at 317-876-9600, day or night. We offer fast and friendly bail bonds, free jail information, inmate look-ups, jail pickup services, jail drop-off services, 24 hour emergency bail bond services, and more! No matter what time of day or night, Woods Bail Bonds can get you or our loved one out of jail, fast! Just call 317-876-9600 and speak with a friendly and honest Indianapolis bail bondsman about getting out of jail in Indiana, today.

Bail Bond Terms and Definitions

Posted on May 22, 2014 by admin

Indianapolis Bail Bonds 317-876-9600

Terms on the topic of law enforcement, courts, trials, charges, and more can all be very confusing for a first-time criminal. It is important for anyone arrested or suspected of a crime to fully understand the proceedings of the law and what to expect. One must educate themselves on the law and the terms used to describe the circumstances in which they face. The initial step in learning how to understand legal and jail jargon is to catch up on some basic terms and definitions commonly used.

Below is a list of terms you should be familiar with if you or a loved one has been arrested, convicted, charged, or suspected of a crime.

Bail Bond Glossary

Arrest

Individuals that have committed a crime are arrested and taken to the county jail by law enforcement. They are detained in jail until they can make bail or go to court.

Jail

County detention center where criminals are detained under law; either serving a sentence or awaiting trial.

Inmate

A person that is detained in jail for committing a crime; either serving time or awaiting trial.

Bail

Money paid in place of an inmate’s temporary release from jail while awaiting their initial hearing. Individuals who deposit the bail take on the responsibility of the inmate. They have to forfeit the money paid if the inmate fails to appear for their hearing.

Bail Bond

A written contract used to release an inmate from legal custody, usually between a bail bondsman and/or other surety; but only upon the guarantee that an inmate appear for their scheduled court hearing. If they fail to appear, the bail bondsman or guarantor forfeits the money paid for their release from jail. If the inmate shows for their hearing, the guarantor or surety receives their money deposit back in full.

Bail Bondsman

A person or company that acts as a surety and pledges the full bond amount to the courts in trade for an inmate’s release from jail; on the guarantee that the inmate appear for their court date, otherwise forfeiting the money paid. These agencies charge a non-refundable fee that is a legally-mandated percentage of an inmate’s total bond amount (Generally 10-15%).

Indemnitor

The person that co-signs, guarantees, and is responsible for an inmate’s appearance in court. The indemnitor is held accountable for the entire bond amount, plus additionally incurred fees (i.e. fugitive recovery fees, filing fees, processing fees, legal costs, etc.), if an inmate misses their hearing.

Collateral

Property given in place of cash to a bail bondsman in trade for services rendered (i.e. boats, cars, fine jewelry, real estate, etc.).

Failure to Appear – FTA

Absent for scheduled mandatory court hearings. This is an additional criminal charge.

Forfeiture

In the case of an FTA, an indemnitor or guarantor must pay courts bond in full or relinquish collateral pledged for an inmate’s bail. The courts generally send a “Notice of Forfeiture” to the bail bondsman to disclose an inmate’s FTA and date in which the bond amount must be paid in full to the court.

Fugitive

An inmate that has failed to appear for their scheduled court date, an escapee from a corrections facility, or individuals that have a warrant out for their arrest.

Arrest Warrant

A legal decree that gives law enforcement permission arrest an individual that is a known fugitive or suspected of a crime. FTA’s also have warrants issued for their arrest. For example, if a person is pulled over for a traffic violation and has an arrest warrant, they can be arrested and taken to jail on the spot.

Aiding and Abetting

Knowingly providing money, food, help, assistance, or shelter to a fugitive.

Now that you have a better understanding of what terms and jargon to expect when getting involved in legal dealings and the bail industry, you can be confident contacting a bail bondsman for professional guidance and service. Choose a bail bond company that has an established and respected reputation within your community. They will have the best relationships with the local law enforcement, jails, and courts.

Woods Bail Bonds in Indianapolis, IN

Woods Bail Bonds Indiana 317-876-9600

Call James Woods at 317-876-9600 for more information about bail bond services in Indianapolis, Indiana. He and our team of licensed, bonded, and insured bail bondsmen are eager to help you understand the bail bond industry by answering all of your bail and arrest warrant questions. We provide services in several counties within Indiana and offer 24 hour assistance, seven days a week. If you have an arrest warrant, or need to bail a friend out of jail, we are the highly trained, professional, and experienced Indianapolis bail bondsman to trust. Contact Woods Bail Bonds at 317-876-9600 today!

5 Common Bail Bond Questions and Answers

Posted on January 24, 2014 by admin

Indianapolis Bail Bonds 317-876-9600

It is only expected for people to have questions and concerns regarding bail bonds and the process behind it all. From costs to contracts; there is a lot of information to cover for people new to the industry. The laws and regulations behind bail bonds and court-ordered bonds differ from state to state; and sometimes, county to county. These differences make it important to know the facts before making any assumptions about the bail bond process.

When a person has a warrant for their arrest, or a loved one is arrested, there are five common questions that usually surface. Continue reading to review these questions and answers about bail bonds so that you can be all-the-more prepared for what is to come in a similar situation.

What Does the Term “Processing” Refer To?

When a person is arrested and taken to jail, they are taken through a process of identification and record keeping. The jail staffs simply collect and reviews all the required information they need to enter a person into the jail’s database. This includes address, name, date of birth, medical history, mug shot, fingerprints, employment information, warrant check, background check, and more. They perform body searches and confiscate any personal items; such as jewelry, hats, wallets, purses, and other similar items. This process is also referred to as booking. Once processing is complete, a person is eligible for bond and can be bailed out of jail.

How Long Does it Take to Get Processed?

It usually takes about an hour to complete the entire process; however, busier jail times can extend processing time up to 12 hours or more. It just depends on the number of staff, the amount of traffic, and the efficiency of the system and jail clerks. If a person is under the influence when arrested, they are placed in a holding cell for eight hours, to sober up, before being processed. Processing times can’t be determined accurately because it can depend on so many different variables. Booking can take a few hours or a few days; you just never really know.

How Much Does Bail Cost?

The cost of a bail bond is fairly straight-forward. This is because states regulate exactly how much a bail bond agency can charge. Within each state, the rates remain pretty consist from county to county. In Indiana, the set rate is 10-15% of the full bond total. This means a bail bondsman can choose whether or not to charge 10 or 15 percent for their services. So if a bond was $5,000, a bail agency will charge $500 to bail a person out of jail. It can reach the 15% bracket if the person is a frequent offender or if it’s under different state laws.

Can a Bail Bondsman Refuse Service to Someone?

The short answer to this question is yes. The longer answer goes on to explain that a bail bondsman is not obligated to provide service to anyone. If they feel that a person is likely to skip bail, and not show up for their scheduled court date, they will refuse them service. If a person skips bail, the bail bond agency is responsible to pay their entire bond amount; as demonstrated in the previous question.

What Information Does a Bail Bondsman Need to Bail You Out of Jail?

A bail bondsman will ask standard identity questions first; such as name, date of birth, employment verification, address, phone number, email, and more. Then they will ask for all the information surrounding the person’s arrest and arrest history. They will also ask for the arresting jail or county, the booking number, and bond amount. If you are trying to bail a friend or loved one out of jail but you are missing some of the needed information, a bail agent can still acquire it; however, it may take a little longer.

Accomplished Indianapolis Bail Bondsman

Woods Bail Bonds 317-876-9600

Woods Bail Bonds has provided fast and friendly bail bond services for more than 30 years. Jim Woods, and his team of licensed and insured bail agents, are there for you in your time of need. We offer a wide range of Indianapolis bail services; from inmate searches, standard bail, property bonds, appeal bonds, immigration bonds, 24 hour bail bond services, notary services, full bail coverage, and much more. Woods Bail Bonds is your all-inclusive solution to fast and secure bail bonds in Indiana. If you would like to ask an accomplished Indianapolis bail bondsman questions about jail and bonds, call our esteemed bail agents at 317-876-9600 anytime.