Three things: call a criminal defense lawyer in your county and then call a bail bondsman to see about getting your friend or family member released.
Tell your friend or family member not to answer any questions about the incident and to ask for a lawyer, which should stop any police questioning.
Instead of waiting out the resolution of your case in jail, bail allows to be released if you put up a financial deposit as a promise to appear in court.
Typically, people accused of a crime hire a bail bondsman. The bondsman will pay the county the entire bail amount in exchange for you paying the bondsman 10% of the bond.
For example, a typical aggravated assault bond in Harris County is $30,000. You can pay that amount to the county to get released and it will be refunded to you after your case is over.
Or you can pay a bail bondsman a non-refundable fee of $3000 (10% of the bail amount) in exhance for them posting the entire amount.
Yes, you must appear at your court settings. It is a condition of your bond that you appear in court and on time. If you fail to appear in court, your bond can be revoked.
As a condition of you being released while your case is resolved, the judge can impose restrictions on your life like drug-testing, no contact with the alleged victim in the case, or in the case of DWI charges, requiring you to install an ignition interlock device in your car.
No. In fact, in Texas, the judge will typically instruct you not to say anything except whether you understand your rights and whether you are hiring a lawyer or need a court-appointed attorney.
Deferred adjudication is a special type of probation. Basically, you are placed on deferred adjudication for a certain amount of time. If you complete the time period without getting in trouble, the charges are dismissed and you will not have a conviction on your record. However, if you commit another crime or violate the conditions of the deferred adjudication, you are found guilty and the judge can assess any punishment in the statutory range of the crime.
Deferred adjudication is not allowed for DWI and other intoxication offenses.
Yes. I typically require half the fee to be paid up front and the balance can be paid over time.
Yes.
In Texas, a person who completes straight probation is not eligible for expunction or non-disclosure. Furthermore, other final criminal convictions cannot be erased from a criminal record.
For example, a DWI conviction can never be expunged or sealed. If the court gave you as your punishment time served in jail or a prison sentence, you have a final conviction that cannot be sealed or expunged.
In common usage, a juvenile may mean 16 years old and under; 18 years old and under; or 21 years old and under. However, under Texas law, a juvenile is ten to sixteen years old. An adult is seventeen and older. Sealing of records governs clearing offenses that occurred as a juvenile. Expunction and non-disclosure are the two main mechanisms to clear an offense that occurred as an adult.
In short, post bond, interview lawyers, go to court, stay out of trouble, assess the evidence, and stay determined and be patient.
These articles will help you understand the Texas criminal law process before trial.
Learn more about Bail in Houston
Presentation
After someone has been arrested for committing a crime, the police must present the person to a judicial officer within 48 hours of the arrest. This appearance is known as presentation. During presentation, the judicial officer will inform the person of the charges against him and of his Miranda rights. Also, the judicial officer will make the initial bail determination.
Learn more about Encounters with Police
Learn more about The Information and the Indictment
Learn more about Dockets and Resets
Read our Warnings About Plea Agreements
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Learn more about Writs of Habeas Corpus