Should You Pay Bail For Drug Crimes Or Not? Two Options, Two Journeys
If you are watching as a loved one is sent to jail, and are called upon to help with bail costs, you might be wondering what effect your money could have. Here are two roads a loved one could take, with or without posting bail to get out of jail:
You Pay Bail
Using the help of a bail bondsman, you can decide to get your loved one out of jail for drug crimes. They will be able to have their freedom while they sort out the details of their court case. That freedom is often worth a lot in terms of avoiding emotional damage to your loved one as well as keeping family bonds strong.
Outside of jail, your loved one may have more time, energy, and strength to mount a good case for dismissal of the accusations against them. They will have a better opportunity to seek the best legal counsel they can. They may be in a better frame of mind, which allows them to recall more details that help them with their case. And the sense of hope that comes with being outside of jail can also be meaningful. It allows them to seek recovery for drug addictions and begin to make repairs for the harm they caused through possession or trafficking of drugs.
On the financial side, you will obviously have a bit higher stakes if you pay bail. The person will be responsible for making all of their court dates. The bail bondsman may not charge you a large amount upfront if you sign a surety bond. The amount would come due only if your loved one fails to participate in their trial.
You Don't Pay Bail
It is hard to say, with certainty, what experience your loved one would have if they stayed in jail. It depends on the conditions of the facilities, how crowded they are with inmates, and what other companions your loved one would be placed with if they needed to stay in jail for a longer amount of time. Sometimes the experience can be sobering and make someone want to change and avoid another short-term stay in jail. Sometimes, the experience can go badly and end with psychological damages or profound differences in a person's way of thinking.
If you are on the fence or are having trouble getting qualified for a bail bond, stay updated on your loved one's conditions as close to daily as you can. Do be appraised of the opportunities you have to post bail through a bail bonds company; if the situation does take a turn for the worst, you will want to know the best ways to relieve your family member of the jail system.
Contact a law office like Barbour & Simpkins LLP for more information and assistance.