It’s a sinking feeling in the pit of your gut to get that phone call telling you that your son is in jail. It’s just a part of being a parent and a worry you hope never comes true. You raise them to the best of your ability only for this to happen. The first thing to remember is to not freak out, even though that’s only a natural reaction, but you should remain calm to help yourself determine the next step to take.
Your next thought should be, “how do I get my son out of jail?” Let’s face it, unless your kid did something really wrong, you don’t want them to stay in there. Jails are dirty, dangerous, and not too friendly places. Plus, you don’t even know what happened yet. Even if you have a good teen who has no history of getting in trouble, they could’ve simply been at the wrong place at the wrong time. Getting them out and back home is in their best interest.
Lucky for you, we are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Your child will have their day in court and you will have an option to bail them out of jail. The first thing you should do as a parent is to teach your children how to react around police officers to help ensure the process goes smoother. Let’s take a look at what they should do.
Teaching Your Children What to Do If They’re Arrested
After someone is arrested, the next few hours are crucial for what happens next. Do they act aggressively towards the police? Do they lie and make up stories? If they act in this manner when approached, they might be arrested instead of just let go for a petty violation. In most instances, a police officer will just release them into the custody of their parents if all goes well and the situation is minor.
If your son, instead, is angry and belittles the police and isn’t respectful to them, the odds are greater they will be brought in. You don’t want that to happen. Tell them they have the right to remain silent until you and/or an attorney is present. If they should speak to the police, they should be polite and respectful. Even if they’ve done nothing wrong, they should keep quiet and be respectful when they do speak. This will go a long way in helping them get out of jail without incident.
You might not think there is much reason for concern, but you can’t imagine how many teens and young adults admit to something they haven’t done. They do so because they get worried and anxious after being involved in a scary situation. Younger people immediately think about what’s going on in the moment rather than the long-term ramifications of what they might say or do in the next few minutes. They should be told to call you right away.
What Do You Do If You Get that Phone Call
“My son is in jail. Now what?” There are many parents who have been in those shoes. They get that phone call and wonder what they should do next. Should they call a lawyer? Run down to the police station? It’s a scary prospect not knowing what to expect. The good news is, teenagers get arrested all the time, usually for petty things, and are released to their parents without charges. So, try not to panic too much and think their life is over. You can figure all that out when it’s time. Your first move is to get them out of jail.
Definitely call a lawyer first. They will have the knowledge and expertise to tell you what steps you should take. If you expect your child is going to be released, then no other steps need to be taken. But if the matter is more serious and you expect your son will be held, then you need to contact a bail bondsman right away. They will be able to help you arrange bail if it’s needed. It’s usually a judge who issues a bail amount for release.
Bail is often many thousands of dollars and many families do not have that kind of money laying around. Courts issue bail to make sure someone arrives at their court date and if they do, they are refunded the amount. That’s why it pays to know where you can go for financial help to get your child out of jail as soon as possible. At Connecticut Bail Bonds Group, we have financing options for bail bonds so that any family can afford to get their son or daughter out of jail while awaiting trial. Call us today to learn more about how we can help.
Connecticut Bail Bonds Group
11 Asylum St, Suite 512
Hartford, CT 06103, USA
(860) 420-2245
