3 Ways to Get Out of Jail

3 Ways to Get Out of Jail

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Flashing lights, cold metal handcuffs, and a police officer placing you in the back seat of a cop car. You are under arrest and headed to jail. So now what? Nobody wants to go to jail, but it happens to many people. Being behind bars is often a scary and embarrassing concept, but fortunately, these experiences do not usually last forever. Here are three ways to legally leave jail if you are ever arrested.

Bond

You might have heard of someone being out on bond. This means that a person is currently out of jail through a financial agreement between that person or someone close to the jailed individual, a bondsman, and the courts. Bail bonds York County PA act like an insurance policy and a payment plan to get out of jail. A bail bondsman pays the money owed on behalf of the arrestee under the conditions that the amount is later paid in full, usually for an additional fee, and the arrestee appears in court as ordered. Bonds are good options for individuals who do not have immediate access to the total bail amount needed.

Bail

It is possible to pay your bail money in full without a bond, though this is usually less feasible. Bail is the amount of money you need to pay to leave jail. Courts set bail amounts based on the type of crime(s) committed, the number of crimes committed, and the potential for flight risk and personal criminal history of the arrestee. Bail amounts range from about a thousand to hundreds of thousands and even, though rare, millions of dollars. Misdemeanor crimes and first offenses usually carry lower bail amounts and felonies, violent crimes, and repeat offenders generally are higher. There are also instances where bail is denied altogether, in which case you will simply have to remain in jail until your hearing.

Release

In a few cases, the courts may decide that a person can be released without paying bail. This type of release is known as release on one’s own recognizance, O.R., or R.O.R. Generally, an arrestee has to sign a document saying he or she agrees to appear in court later to face the charges set against them to procure this type of release. Sometimes these releases are granted to deter further crime or due to outstanding financial or personal circumstances. A court may allow an R.o.R. for very minor crimes where the possibility of further criminal activity and flight risk is very low, such as traffic violations.

Getting arrested can be nerve-wracking. Knowing these possibilities for getting out quickly, can help settle your nerves if you are headed to jail.

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