Being arrested can be frustrating and scary. Knowing what to expect during the booking process can help alleviate some of the anxiety individuals feel during this stressful event as it removes the fear of the unknown associated with being taken to jail. Affordable Bail Bonding is here to help you post bail in Halifax County and we are well-versed with local legal proceedings. In today’s post, we’ll review a few things you can expect after your arrest before you’ll be allowed to post bail. Let’s take a look at them now.
What to Expect After an Arrest
Routine Questioning
When you are first brought into jail, you will be asked a series of questions to aid the booking process. These types of questions should be routine and may include asking for your name and address, your driver’s license number, and your place of employment. The booking agent may also ask for emergency contact information and whether or not you have any medical conditions for which you receive treatment. To protect your right to remain silent, you should be given a Miranda Warning for questions that pertain to the reason for your arrest.
Fingerprints and Mugshots
Once the booking agent has gathered the needed information to book you into jail, they will collect your fingerprints and mugshots. The fingerprints collected will be entered into an FBI-maintained national database. Your mugshot will be kept on record to identify you physically in the unlikely event that two people with the same name are being held at the same jail. Mugshots also document your physical condition when booked into jail.
Personal Property Confiscated
In addition to taking fingerprints and mugshots, the booking agent will also collect and confiscate your personal property. This includes keys, phones, wallets, jewelry, and other personal effects. Depending on the nature of your crime, you may be permitted to keep small items, but this will be at the discretion of the jail. Your personal property will be bagged and securely stored, and the jail must return it to you upon your release.
Full-Body Search
You may have received a pat-down search as you were being arrested, but this will likely not be the end of the searches you endure. It is also common for jail officials to complete a full-body search after you have been arrested to make sure that you do not have weapons or drugs hidden anywhere on your body. Although this seems extreme, especially if you were brought in on a relatively minor offense, remember that it is as much for your safety as it is for that of jail officials and other inmates.
Health Screenings
You will likely go through a couple of health screenings after you are arrested. These are done so that the jail can determine the condition of your health upon being booked into their facility. This allows them to protect the health and safety of jail staff and other inmates. They may take x-rays and perform blood work as part of these screenings. They may also collect a DNA sample from you that will be entered into national tracking databases.
Search for Warrants
It is customary for booking agents to run background checks and warrant searches on individuals who have been arrested. This enables them to understand the full scope of your criminal history and understand your current legal status. Beyond this, pending warrants can also influence whether or not you are eligible for bail. The information obtained in this search will be forwarded to a magistrate who reviews your case for bail.
Arraignment
Within a day or so, you will be arraigned. During your arraignment, you will be advised of the charges brought against you and they will also ask you about your plans for legal representation. Additionally, the judge will advise you of your bail amount. In the event that your bail is more than you can afford to pay on your own, you’ll want to turn to Affordable Bail Bonding for help.
Need to Post Bail in Halifax County?
When you are arrested, you need a local bail bonds company who is willing to help you in your time of need. Affordable Bail Bonding offers bail bonds services 24 hours a day, seven days a week in Halifax County, allowing you to post bail and get out of jail quickly so that you can prepare for your upcoming trial. We gladly offer payment plans on bail premiums and we accept most major credit cards to make getting out of jail quick and easy. Contact us today to request bail — we look forward to helping you!