Can You Bail Yourself Out of Jail?

[billw1032]

Hopefully no one here needs to know this, but I'll ask just in case.

If someone here should have an unfortunate encounter with LE, can you get yourself out of jail without involving anyone else? I honestly don't know how the procedure works.

Probably many people here have the financial resources to meet whatever bail is set, but might not have the cash, credit card, or check book with them at the time. Also, I think I heard that certified funds are required. Seems like you could have the resources but not have access to them when needed. Can you post bail without outside help?

[Guest083119]

While things may differ by facility and jurisdiction, here is a probable situation:

You get booked into jail and they take all your personal belongings, wallet, purse, phone, etc. They don't "give you one phone call" but in the holding cell or somewhere nearby, you should have access to a pay phone. But you don't have any money, so you can only make collect calls.

Some jails are nicer and have a phone where you can make free local calls and even a list of bondsmen. But most don't and you need to call a bondsman (or someone you know) collect. Or your criminal attorney. You probably need to call a landline, but that may have changed or be changing with fewer landlines.

So, you probably see the issue. You need to have a number to call memorized. If there are other people, ask around to see if someone has a bail bond number to call. BUT, the best thing is to have one memorized before. That's why many have billboards with easy to remember numbers or even 800 numbers that you can call from a pay phone!

If the amount is small, they may bail you out, and meet you to collect the fee. If it is bigger, you may need someone to meet them and pay them. Many take credit cards and so, I suggest memorizing your credit card number as well. I happen to be good with numbers, so it's not an issue with me. I know my bank accounts, a couple credit cards, and a handful of emergency phone numbers.

Sometimes you will get released without having to put up anything but your signature and a promise to appear. But it depends on the charge. Usually the fastest thing to do is call a bondsman or criminal attorney and ask what to do to get out fastest.

Be a Boy Scout. Be prepared. Get out of jail faster.

Caveat - this is not to be construed as legal advice:

The only way I know of someone getting out of jail rather quickly with no outside help at all was, of all people, an attorney I know who got booked at midnight on a Class C Public Intoxication charge, plead No Contest at his video arraignment at about 6 am (from the jail) and was released at 10 am, then went the following day and filed an appeal. He later went to court and got the case dismissed. You'll have to ask Shyster John if that scenario is valid on a Class B misdemeanor charge in Dallas.

[tinman483]

Depends on the State in IA no but I believe in NE yes.
Just sayin

[Unique_Carpenter]

Originally Posted by billw1032

Can you post bail without outside help?

Rarely.
To start, most lower level misdemeanors are catch, cite, & release.
So you're talking about higher level issues.

Reread B3's comments above, especially the part about memorizing phone #s.

I drink with various types of attys, and a couple PIs (bond folks).
The criminal attys and bond folks cells light up frequently.
What is it about early evenings?

And, as always, keep your mouth shut.
If leo wants to take you in, there's no stopping it, and you'll end up saying something that your atty will bitch at you about later.

[Sasha361]

U can call a bond company and release ur property to them to pay ur bond ..or if u have a card tell the jail ppl they will give u the card and u can pay them there

[I.EAT.CLAM]

I bailed myself out once. Called bail bond person and they came and got my American Express out of my wallet (where it had been secured during booking), charged the necessary amount and I was out within an hour or two..

[bill sins]

Remember tel numbers, credit card numbers.I'm screwed I have a sever case of C.R.S.(Can't Remember Shit)

[Guest083119]

I specifically asked someone today if you could call a cell phone collect from the city or county jail here in Houston. The answer was yes, but the receiving party had to input a credit card to receive the call. I remembered that I had received such call a while back and it kept disconnecting while I was trying to enter the card, so it is a finicky system.

[billw1032]

Originally Posted by Sasha361

U can call a bond company and release ur property to them to pay ur bond ..or if u have a card tell the jail ppl they will give u the card and u can pay them there

Originally Posted by I.EAT.CLAM

I bailed myself out once. Called bail bond person and they came and got my American Express out of my wallet (where it had been secured during booking), charged the necessary amount and I was out within an hour or two..

I guess the question boils down to, do you have to memorize the phone number of a bail bondsman? Or, will you be able to access the number when you find yourself in this situation and can you access funds to pay the guy when he shows up?

[Judd Logan]

Spoke out of turn, disregard

[Judd Logan]

Disregard

[Danielle Silver]

Find a bailsbondsman.
Memorize his number make sure you have a credit/debit card in your wallet.


If not, it shall be a sucky time, waiting around, calling the wife.


The jail owes you nothing. Guilty first..

Always be prepared.

Everyone posted great advice..

[Crock]

Originally Posted by I.EAT.CLAM

I bailed myself out once. Called bail bond person and they...

Are you a bail bond person? Did you call yourself?

[Nikki Famme]

Great news for criminals! Lol. The system is changing. Due to politics and jail overcrowding, the jails are now encouraging people to try to get out on a pr bond, before calling a bondsman. If you have the money, can't get out on a PR bond, but have an attorney... its cheaper to just go straight through your attorney. Otherwise, you sure paying a lawyer and a bondsman when you really could have just used the attorney for jail release. A lot of unseasoned lightweight criminals don't know that! Lol. They have switched to a computerized system in a lot of counties that now determines if you should get out on a bond or not. Yep. Rapists and the real scum of the earth are getting out of jail on bond super easy and quick now. SMH. They just about let anyone out on a pr bond now. Hell, they released tons of people from Harris county not too long ago.

Remember, its just a misdemeanor. So if you have tontake the ride, keep quiet, get an attorney and it'll probably never reach trial. You can have it expunged later.

[normalguy21]

If you are anyone is doing something they feel at sometime would warrant a trip to be booked and arrested i highly and i mean HIGHLY recomend retaning counsel ahead of time and having available funds in the form of a surety or bond etc etc in at least the class c felony amount of 35 to 50 -k .


Class B you from out of town F you your not getting out unless 100 k or more and well if you kill well F you and you dont need out ,


Not being from where you live as in your home state puts a shit ton of restrictions on condition of your release so CASH is king to be able to not use a bonds man or use one to get you out the first 24 hours and buy your bond back from them and of course what ever there fee would be to get a law breaking just got arrested out of state stranger out of county lock up .


I have had the money in cash on me and unable to use it as it gets put in a trustee acount .




Yes you can bound your self out but how the hell can you take a check written off a county acount and reassign it back to the county ?


Cant so your cash got turned into a check and checky check your self before you rickety reck your self .


F in predick tiv typing shit sorry you know what mean - well maybe i dont even ..Later just go play monopoly