Being arrested can be a stressful and overwhelming experience. The first concern is how quickly release can happen. The timeline varies depending on such factors as the booking process, bail bonds determination, and jail processing times. This is how soon you can get out of jail after arrest:
Booking Process
Following an arrest, police will take the person to jail for booking. The procedure includes recording personal details, taking fingerprints, and photographing the person. Officers will check for any outstanding warrants, which can affect the release process. It may take longer to determine eligibility for bail if more charges are found.
Jail staff collect and store personal belongings during booking, which will be returned when the person is released. It usually takes a few hours, but there can be a delay if the jail is full or there have been a lot of arrests that day. Processing time can be extended on weekends, holidays, and peak hours. The booking process could be longer if the individual needs medical attention.
Bail Determination
Bail is a guarantee that someone will come to court while they await trial. The amount is set based on the crime, criminal history, and likelihood of being in court. For some minor offenses, there are pre-set bail amounts so that you can pay the bail and be released immediately.
A judge reviews the case during a bail hearing, and if a bail is not pre-set, a judge will review the case. This hearing could happen within a few hours, but it may be postponed to the next available court session. The hearing might not occur until the following business day if the arrest occurs at night or over the weekend. Some individuals may be allowed to be released without bail if they are deemed low-risk.
Posting Bail
After bail is set, the next step is to post payment to get released. This can be done in three ways. The first way to get out of jail is to pay the court the full amount of the bail. This is the fastest way to secure release if the funds are available.
The second is using a bail bonds service, which involves paying a non-refundable fee (usually 10% of the bail amount) to a bondsman in exchange for posting the full bail amount. This option is widely used because it requires less upfront cash. A bail bonds service that handles paperwork efficiently can speed up the process.
Jail Release Timeframes
Jail processing times determine how long it will take before someone is released after posting bail. If bail is set at a predetermined amount, it can be paid immediately, and a prisoner could be released within a few hours. Most standard releases may take several more hours. The jail staff has to verify paperwork, make sure the payment is made, and do final checks before someone can be released.
Delays can be longer than twelve hours in busy facilities or when system backlogs slow processing. If more reviews are needed or more than one person is waiting to be released, the wait time can be the following day. Processing times are longer on weekends and holidays because fewer staff are available.
Get Bail Bonds
Working with a bail bond service allows someone to be released from jail before a judge is able to see them. The service can obtain information about someone’s bond amount to potentially have them be released sooner. Reach out to a bail bond provider to have your loved one released from jail as soon as possible.
