After being arrested under the suspicion of committing a crime, the first thought that comes to most people’s minds is their phone call. When do I get an opportunity to make a phone call? How many phone calls can I make? And another common question, “Can I receive phone calls or messages from the outside when arranging for a bail bond? All of these are reasonable and wise questions to ask. Continue reading to learn what you need to know about placing phone calls in jail after an arrest, including whether or not you can relay messages back and forth with a friend, loved one, or bail bondsman.

Typical Jail Process

The arrest and jailing process for county jails differs among jurisdiction. What might be procedural in one state, may be entirely different in another. However, the basics of arrest and detainment remain the same across the board. Once a person is arrested and detained by law enforcement, they are cuffed, read their rights, and placed in the back of the police cruiser. Then they are transported to the county jail, where they are escorted into the building through the processing center. Once inside, they will be searched, and all personal belongings will be confiscated, catalogued, and kept safe until their release; this includes your cellular device.

After being searched, the arrestee is taken to a standard jail cell, which looks like a concrete room with a concrete bench, and sometimes a water fountain or toilet. In rare cases, an arrestee will be taken to a room with plastic or glass windows, depending on their age, severity of crime, and more. When the arrestee is in their jail cell, the jail staff can choose when to begin booking and processing them into the jail database. If the arrestee is intoxicated, staff will wait at least 8 hours before even considering beginning the booking process. Similarly, if an arrestee is being uncooperative or disruptive, the jail staff will put them at the bottom of the list, and make them wait longer.

Making Phone Calls in Jail

The booking process is simply the stage where all information is taken from the arrestee, including basic contact information, employment, and residence, as well as, fingerprints and mugshots. Once the jail staff finishes the booking and processing phase, the arrestee is free to make their phone call, or calls. An arrested person can typically make as many phone calls as they like, so long as there are not others waiting to use the phone, and they are demonstrating good behavior. The catch is, these phone calls are not free, and arrestees must make collect calls. Furthermore, arrestees must dial numbers by memory.

If arrested and making phone calls in jail, the best person to call is your closest friend, relative, or loved one. They can then contact a local Indiana bail bondsman who can facilitate your bond posting process quickly. However, you cannot receive messages or phone calls in jail; so, once you contact someone, you must simply wait, and let them get on the job. You can, however, call back later to check on the status of your bail bond. Another option is to directly contact a local bail bonds company. They can get you out of jail fast, and all you have to do is sign the paperwork and pay the fee once they pick you up from the jail.

Where to Get 24 Hour Bail Bonds in Indianapolis, Indiana

Call Woods Bail Bonds at 317-876-9600 for safe and secure bail bonds in Indianapolis, Indiana you can trust, 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. Not only do we serve both adult and juvenile clients, we also offer prearranged bail bond services for those needing to surrender to an arrest warrant. In some cases, we can get you turned in and released in as little as one hour. Request a free estimate or jail information, anytime.