Oh No, I Have Been Arrested - What Now?
If you've been arrested and charged with a crime, you'll almost certainly be sent to prison for booking. Booking is an important aspect of the record-keeping process. It includes your mug shot, fingerprints, the alleged offense(s), and a few other details surrounding your arrest. Next, using a schedule set up by the courts, a bail will be set. The severity of your crimes, as well as the number of charges brought against you, determine the amount. In certain circumstances, no bail will be issued; however, in the majority of cases, bail will be set. In addition, unless you have been charged by a grand jury, you will appear before the magistrate to be informed of the charges filed against you and to be advised of the bail amount. In certain situations, the judge may ask you a few questions, but in most cases, your appearance is brief and is normally done by closed-circuit television from the jail to the judge in the courtroom. During your initial appearance, the judge may ask if ...