4 Things To Know About Getting Bail
The language of the law is written in such a convoluted way because it is meant to be understood only by those who studied it and not the layperson. When you are read your Miranda rights, the law enforcement officer tells you everything you need to know about your rights. The best course of action here is to tell them that you want law and that you will only talk in their presence.
The law enforcement officer clear tells you that:
“You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have a right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed for you.”
This means that anything you say, whether good or bad, can be used against you in a court of law, and this is why you are advised to speak only in the presence of a lawyer. Getting bail is also not as easy as you might things; there is a lot that goes into whether someone is eligible for bail or not. So, without further ado, let’s dive into this blog and learn some things you should know about getting bail.
1. Give your name as written on your ID
This may sound like a given, but a lot of people give aliases and nicknames, and this won’t help with getting bail. You should give them accurate information for them to process your file; the policies used to people giving fake names and ID, so you are better off speaking the truth here. If you are trans and still haven’t changed your dead name on your ID yet, give them the name on your ID and your chosen name, this will make the process smoother.
Law enforcement officers have a database of names and IDs, and trust us; they will look you up on this to see whether you are eligible for bail or not. People name give fake names for a plethora of reasons; some of these include that they already have warrants on their name or have previous convictions.
2. Nature of the alleged offense
According to State and federal laws, different crimes demand different bail amounts, and this typically changes from state to state. Minor crimes or misdemeanors tend to have a lower bail than more severe offenses like first-degree murder. An example of this is you can be expected to pay for a higher bail if you have been arrested for a felony like murder than if you are accused of a misdemeanor like a DUI. Depending on the severity of your crime, you can also be refused bail.
3. Past criminal history
This usually ties in with the first point on our list. Your arresting officer will look you up on their database to see if you have a past criminal history. If you have a no or a clean criminal record, you may be given a lower bail than if you had an active and lengthy record.
However, fear not because having a past criminal history doesn’t necessarily mean that you will get an exorbitant bail. It just means that the judge will consider the severity of your past offenses and whether you were found guilty or not when deciding on the bail amount. It is also important for you to know that you might be denied bail if you are on parole or have an outstanding warrant(s) in other jurisdictions.
4. Past court appearances
One of the main reasons for bail is to guarantee is because they trust you to show back again in court for the day of your case or court hearing. If you have a history of skipping multiple court dates, you may end up with a higher bail amount or no bail. A judge is less like to grant you bail for a misdemeanor if you have a history of skipping your hearings.
You should also be aware that skipping court dates affects your bail and can also have more severe repercussions. One of the things that may happen is that you might lose your bail bond, and your property bond might also get forfeited.
You might also have a warrant for arrest, which can get you back in custody as a last resort; they may also use the bail bond to hire bounty hunters to find you. These are only some of the things that may happen if you don’t show up for your court hearing. This is why you are advised to show or, and if you can’t, you should have a valid reason.
Looking for help?
If you need a professional lawyer in Florida, then you ought to contact The Better Bail. They are a fast and reliable company with years of experience in this particular domain. Their team of professionals provides 24/7 services and is at your service. So, get in touch with them and let them help you get your bail bond.
