If you are facing an arrest warrant, you already feel the pressure to turn yourself in to authorities. But once you do, you must remain in custody until the judge sets your bail. This can give you even more reason to put off your surrender to your arrest warrant considering you might be worried about paying for bail. After all, not many people have a few thousand dollars of disposable cash on hand, which is what’s required of offenders who wish to post their bail through the jail.
To reduce the cost of bail, you can choose to use a bail bond service instead of dealing directly with the jail, which would allow you to pay only a portion of the total bond amount, thus giving you some financial relief. However, this still requires you to pay out-of-pocket for their services. Overall, posting your bail is up to you. You can choose to pay for bail, or you can choose to remain in jail.
Continue reading to learn the most common factors that influence how long you will have to stay in jail if you cannot afford to pay for bail.
Factors That Influence Time in Jail
There are many factors that influence how long you will sit in custody before being allowed a release from jail. The first and most influential factor is the charge you are being arrested on. More serious crimes might not be eligible for bail, which means you stay in jail until your court hearings are complete and you are given a verdict. Another factor is your criminal history. If you are a habitual offender, a judge might not grant you bail.
Accordingly, if you have failed to appear for court in the past, the same consequence might occur. Smaller, but still impactful, factors include the activity and traffic within the jail, including how well-staffed they are at the processing center. Also, anyone arrested under the influence of drugs or alcohol will have to wait at least 8 hours to gain sobriety before being booked and processed in the jail.
If You Cannot Pay for Bail
Your first hearing is usually held within 24 to 48 hours from the time of arrest (in the case of a warrant, the time of surrender), and is called your arraignment, or initial hearing. At the time of your arraignment, the judge will either set bail for you, or release you without bail (also known as “OR”, or “own recognizance”). If you cannot pay for bail or a bail bond, your only option is to remain in jail until your next court hearing, which is likely your trial where you will be found guilty or not guilty. You will be entered into “remand detention”, which is for defendants waiting for their trial.
The time between your arraignment and your trial can range from a few weeks to several months, or even years. Most trials take place within two or three weeks. If you can’t pay for bail, it is important to consult with your public defender lawyer who can help locate a local Indianapolis arrest warrant bail bondsman that can get you out of jail fast, and at a price you CAN afford.
24 Hour Arrest Warrant Bail Bonds in Indianapolis
Contact Woods Bail Bonds at 317-876-9600 for prompt and professional, arrest warrant bail bond services in Indianapolis, Indiana. Not only can we get you out of jail fast, we can prearrange a bail bond if you need to surrender to an arrest warrant. And we provide our services in over 30 Indiana counties, regardless of time, day, or city. Request a free estimate, anytime.