You've been arrested and the initial shock of being handcuffed and going to jail is starting to wear off. While that is stressful enough, it is only the beginning. You probably now have a lot of questions about what you should do - and what you shouldn't do. While I can't answer all those questions here, I can try to answer the most common ones. So here's a list of things to do - and not do.

Stay in touch with your bondsmen

The only person keeping you out of jail right now is your bail bondsmen. You need to keep them happy, which usually means two things. The first is checking in regularly, so they know where you are. They have basically promised that you will show up in court, so they need to be able to find you if you have a court date. The second is pay them. Some bondsmen allow you to make payments, and if that's your situation make sure you stay up with that. If you don't, they have the right to go off your bond and take you back to jail.

Talk to a lawyer

Probably not a surprise that I would say this. However, there's a reason for it. You are going to have a lot of questions, which is going to create a lot of stress. Getting answers to those questions can relieve a lot of that stress. It's usually not as bad as you think it is.

Don't talk to the police

Sometimes the police will follow up after an arrest and try to talk with you. You've already been arrested, and you can't undo that. Most of the time they are simply trying to get more information to use against you; if they had any doubts about your guilt, they wouldn't have arrested you in the first place. And for heaven's sake, don't call up the officer and ask to talk to him or her. That conversation will probably make their case even stronger.

Be careful with social media

Social media is now an integral part of daily life. I'm still amazed at the things people put on social media. If you followed the "affluenza" case at all, he ended up in trial because a picture of him at a party ended up on Facebook, which was a violation of the conditions of his probation. People also say things on social media, without a second thought as to who can see it. Whatever you put out on social media, just assume that the prosecutor is going to see it. If you don't want to give the prosecutor a call and tell them something, don't put it out there for everyone to see.

Don't try to fix it yourself

Whatever you do, don't try to fix the situation yourself. This often occurs in cases where there are victims, such as theft or assault. You've been arrested, and you can't undo that. There may be a time to reach out to victims, but it should be by someone else. At best, you will probably make admissions that can be used against you. At worst, you can pick up a new charge for obstruction of justice, or tampering with witnesses.

Stay out of trouble

This seems pretty basic, but I've had an awful lot of clients who couldn't do it. You should be on your best behavior. Even if you don't get in trouble, how you act - and what you do - can be a factor when it comes to deciding what to do with your case. 

If you need help, get it

An arrest can sometimes be a wake-up call, especially in DWI and drug cases. Most of the time people have to hit bottom before they recognize they have a problem, and an arrest may be the push you need. If you know you have a problem with alcohol or drugs, deal with it. We have experience working with several agencies, and will happy to point you in the right direction - even if we don't end up representing you.

Don't let it eat you up

I know it's easy for me to say, but you can't stress out about the situation and worry about it 24 hours a day. No matter what the situation, it's not the end of the world. You may have to make adjustments and make some changes, but life will go on. Don't make things worse by spending all your time worrying about what might happen.

If you want to put our experience to work for you and get answers to all of your questions, give us a call at 254-296-0020, or fill out the contact form on this page.

 

 

Walter Reaves
Connect with me
Criminal Defense Attorney Walter Reaves has been practicing law for over 35 years.