Whether they’re your spouse, sibling, parents, or child, finding a loved one in jail can be an overwhelming experience. What’s more heartbreaking is you might not have been there during their arrest.
If the person arrested is your spouse and you have small children, it may even be harder to explain where mommy or daddy is. It’s natural to feel panicked in this situation and not know where to turn for help. You can visit our website for tips on how to explain an arrest to a child.
If you have a loved one in jail, it’s essential to know how to find them. The process can be confusing and frustrating, but you can track them down with a little bit of patience and perseverance.
Steps On Finding An Arrested Loved One In Jail
1. Know Where They Are Being Held
Firstly, identify where your loved one is being held. This information can be found on the arrest report, listing the city and county where the arrest took place. If you don’t have a copy of the report, you can contact the jail or prison where your loved one is being held and ask for that information.
2. Search Online
As soon as you know where your loved one is incarcerated, you can begin searching for them online. Most jails and prisons maintain an online inmate roster, which lists each inmate’s name, date of birth, and booking number. You can also find photos and other information about the inmates on this roster.
If you can’t find your loved one on the online roster, you can try searching for them on commercial databases such as those offered by JPay or InmateAid. These databases charge a fee for their services, but they often have more information about inmates than the online rosters maintained by jails and prisons.
3. Contact The Jail Or Prison
If you still can’t find your loved one online, you can contact the jail or prison where they are being held. They can provide you with additional information, such as the inmate’s housing unit and bail amount.
If you can’t afford the bail amount, you can contact a bail bondsman. They can help you post bail and get your loved one released from jail.
4. Visit The Jail Or Prison In Person
If you’re struggling to find your loved one, you can always visit the jail or prison in person. This is often the best way to get accurate and up-to-date information about an inmate.
Be sure to bring a photo ID and the inmate’s full name and date of birth with you. You might also want to bring a copy of the arrest report, just in case there are any discrepancies.
5. Be Patient
Finding a loved one in jail can be frustrating and confusing, but with a bit of patience and perseverance, you can track them down. Stay calm and don’t give up. Eventually, you’ll find the information you need.
What Happens After Posting A Bail Bond?
After posting bail for your loved one, they will be released from jail and must appear in court. If they fail to appear in court, the bail bond will be forfeited, and they may be arrested again.
If your loved one is found guilty of the crime, the bail bond money will be used to pay for their sentence. If they are found innocent, the bail bond money will be refunded to you.
A Guide On How To Win A Loved One’s Criminal Case
The last thing you want is your loved one to be found guilty of a crime they didn’t commit. If you’re worried about your loved one’s criminal case, our guide can help.
Check The Status Of The Case
Check the status of the case. You can do this online or by contacting the court where the case is pending. By knowing the status of the case, you can get a better idea of what to expect.
Get A Copy Of The Court File
If you want to understand the case better, you can request a copy of the court file. This will give you all of the documents related to the case, including the indictment, police reports, and witness statements.
Get Legal Representation
If your loved one doesn’t have an attorney, they should consider getting legal representation. An experienced lawyer can help your loved one build a strong defense and increase their chances of winning the case.
They may choose to hire a public defender or a private attorney. Many people argue that hiring a private lawyer is better since they can win a case more than public defenders. In fact, research showed that public defenders performed better than their appointed private counterparts.
But whatever you believe works best for your loved one, make sure they have an attorney they can trust.
Be Prepared For Trial
Many criminal cases don’t go to trial, but you need to be prepared if your loved one does. This means knowing the facts of the case and answering any questions that may come up during the trial.
You must also dress appropriately for court, which means dressing formally.
Be Supportive And Understanding
When your loved one is going through a tough time, it’s important to be supportive and understanding. Offer them words of encouragement and be there for them when they need you.
Above all, remember that they are innocent until proven guilty.