The unthinkable has happened. You’ve gotten a phone call and discovered that a loved one has been arrested in San Antonio, Texas. Who is the first person you should reach out to? The short answer is that a bail bond agent should be the first person you contact when you get the news.
But you’ll most likely want to know what your options are before you pick up the phone. After all, there are multiple people you could get in contact with first besides a bail bond agent. In this article, we’ll explain who could be your first call and why that person should be a bail bond agent.
Who Can You Call?
- A Loved One: Your first thought may be to call a loved one. You may want to let family members know or possibly ask them if they can help come up with the money to post bail for the person who was arrested. However, posting bail with your own money has its own challenges.
- An Attorney: If someone is arrested in San Antonio, Texas, they have the right to an attorney. If hiring an attorney is too expensive, you can be provided with a public defender. A criminal defense attorney should definitely be on your list of people to call, but they can’t get your loved one out of jail after an arrest. They mainly help the accused navigate the legal process. Your first call should be to someone who can obtain the release of the accused as soon as possible.
- A Bail Bond Agent: This is the person who can get your loved one out from behind bars the quickest. They have the resources to post bail and free your loved one before their court date.
Why You Should Call a Bail Bond Agent First
Now that we’ve covered the people you could contact when you get the news of a loved one’s arrest, we will now explain the three reasons why your first call should be to a bail bond agent.
Get Released More Quickly
After someone is arrested, time is of the essence. In San Antonio, Texas, the accused will typically be booked and face a judge for arraignment within 72 hours. That’s not a lot of time to get your affairs in order. A judge may not let the defendant go on personal recognizance, and it takes time for loved ones to pool together enough cash to post bail. If you want to get your loved one out of jail quickly, a San Antonio bail bond agent has the funds and experience to make it happen.
Gain More Leverage
When someone is arrested in San Antonio, the prosecution has the leverage to pursue a plea bargain. In a plea bargain, the prosecutor offers lesser charges on the condition the defendant agrees to plead guilty. But this can lead an innocent person to be convicted of a crime they didn’t commit just to avoid a potentially longer sentence. When a bail bond agent posts bail, the defendant can be released from jail and have more time to work with their attorney to make a case in court.
Avoid County Jail
When someone is arrested in San Antonio, Texas, they’re usually detained in a local jail. But unless they post bail within a matter of hours of their arrest, they’ll get transferred to a county jail, which could lead to further complications for release. You need to act fast and post bail as soon as possible before that happens. That’s why a bail bond agent should be the first person you call.
If you or a loved one is arrested in San Antonio, your first goal is to get them out from behind bars as quickly as possible so you can work with an attorney outside of a jail meeting room. A San Antonio bail bond agency like River City Bail Bonds can make that happen. Our experienced bondsmen are here to answer your questions and walk you through the bail and release process. Find an office in your area and give us a call.
