| The parents of college students know that | | | | necessary, a bail bondsman may even arrange a |
| college is an expensive venture. Throughout | | | | payment plan. |
| the coming school year they know they'll | | | | |
| write checks for tuition, dorm furnishings, | | | | When you contact a bail agent, be prepared to |
| books, meal plans, and, of course, there will | | | | answer some questions about yourself, the |
| be unplanned expenses. All parents expect to | | | | student, and share some financial |
| get calls asking for more money, but few are | | | | information. The bail bond interview process |
| prepared for their son or daughter to call | | | | may seem intrusive, but it's a necessary part |
| from jail and ask for bail bond money. | | | | of determining risk. If the person getting |
| | | | bailed out doesn't show up in court, the bail |
| This isn't just an unexpected expense; it's | | | | bond agent, and ultimately the person who |
| the shock of an arrest of a young adult. It's | | | | bailed him or her out, is liable for the full |
| not just a financial decision; it's an | | | | bail amount. Agents have to be very careful |
| emotional and emotionally challenging time | | | | and make sure they're dealing with people who |
| for parents and students. | | | | will take responsibility for the situation |
| | | | and keep their promises to appear in court. |
| Most parents have no idea what to do next and | | | | |
| are full of questions. Should they stay out | | | | For parents, it's terrifying to have a child |
| of it and "teach the kid a lesson" or post | | | | in jail and even worse if the jail is out of |
| bail? If they want to help, what's the next | | | | state. But bail bond agents can help you 24 |
| step? Can they even afford to pay for a bail | | | | hours a day no matter where you're located. |
| bond? Is it possible to bail out someone in | | | | They'll explain how bail bonds work, provide |
| another state? The best way to get answers | | | | payment options, and advise you on whether |
| is to call an expert - a licensed bail agent. | | | | you even need to start the bail bond process. |
| | | | |
| Parents' Dilemma: To Bail or Not to Bail? | | | | Most Arrests Involve Alcohol or Drug Offenses |
| | | | |
| The most common question most parents ask is: | | | | Unfortunately, alcohol abuse is about as |
| "should I post bail?" They're thinking of | | | | common as skipping classes on college |
| all the times they sternly told their teen | | | | campuses - and may actually cause absences. |
| (and maybe their parent's told them): "you go | | | | According to studies compiled at |
| to jail, be prepared to spend the night." A | | | | CollegeDrinkingPrevention.gov, 25% of college |
| night in jail is a lesson nobody will ever | | | | students report that excessive drinking has |
| forget. | | | | caused academic problems. The same Web site |
| | | | reports that: "...an estimated 110,000 |
| However, jail conditions vary widely. For | | | | students a year are arrested for an |
| instance, in Los Angeles County, a college | | | | alcohol-related violation such as driving |
| student who isn't bailed out quickly from a | | | | under the influence or public drunkenness." |
| local jail may end up in the Twin Towers or | | | | |
| Men's Central Jail facilities. We're not | | | | Drinking problems aren't limited to campuses. |
| talking about the Mayberry jail with gentle | | | | A substantial number of students become |
| Otis as a cellmate. These jails couldn't be | | | | involved in bar fights, heated disagreements |
| farther from Mayberry if they were located on | | | | at sporting events, and similar altercations, |
| the Moon. | | | | with almost 700,000 cases of alcohol-related |
| | | | assault reported each year. When students |
| In Los Angeles, a night of college carousing | | | | combine their inexperience with alcohol with |
| can have serious implications. Jail is a | | | | fluctuating hormones and overly emotional |
| scary place to be and can be dangerous. As | | | | responses to events, the result is often an |
| the Los Angeles Times reported in 2006: "With | | | | arrest on alcohol and/or assault charges. |
| nearly 6,000 inmates - some of whom are only | | | | |
| awaiting trial - the Men's Central Jail is | | | | Even so, most parents expect college students |
| also one of the nation's most violent | | | | to experiment with alcohol. They're far more |
| facilities. Since 2003, nine inmates have | | | | frightened when a child is arrested on drug |
| been killed in the jail." | | | | charges. Parents are shocked at the thought |
| | | | of a child using drugs and worried about the |
| Of course, not all arrests land a young | | | | consequences. Beside the obvious health |
| person in a violent jail, but location is an | | | | concerns, the penalties for drug offenses can |
| important consideration. Many small | | | | be much more severe than for alcohol-related |
| community jails don't keep detainees for a | | | | charges. |
| long period of time. If they aren't bailed | | | | |
| out quickly, defendants are transferred to | | | | Minor Offenses May Not Require Bail |
| larger city or county facilities and have to | | | | |
| go through the arrest and booking process all | | | | Depending on the offense, a bail bond may not |
| over again. | | | | be necessary. Students are often arrested, |
| | | | booked, and then released with a citation to |
| That promised "night in jail" could literally | | | | appear in court - called a "cite out." |
| become days in jail if the student isn't | | | | |
| bailed out promptly. | | | | Authorities are most likely to issue |
| | | | "cite-outs" when dealing with relatively |
| Any way you cut it, dealing with the legal | | | | minor offenses like public drunkenness or a |
| process itself is enough to "teach a lesson" | | | | basic DUI. "Basic" means that the person |
| to any student who will learn it. The student | | | | doesn't have a history of DUI arrests, there |
| suddenly is faced with the embarrassment of | | | | was no accident involved, no minors in the |
| arrest and booking, loss of personal freedom, | | | | vehicle, no leaving the scene, resisting |
| and the prospect of explaining himself to the | | | | arrest, etc. In those cases, the police will |
| law and court system. College students make | | | | often keep the offenders for 8-10 hours until |
| mistakes and show bad judgment - parents | | | | they're sober enough to leave with a promise |
| might say horribly bad judgment - but leaving | | | | to appear in court. However, expect to post |
| them in jail longer isn't necessary to create | | | | bail in cases where there's a felony or |
| an impact. | | | | serious misdemeanor involved. |
| | | | |
| Bail Bond Agents Prefer to Work with Families | | | | In a minor case, the bail bond agent may |
| | | | recommend that you not post bail. If the |
| Don't be surprised if your college student | | | | student is likely to be released quickly |
| calls someone else first when they're | | | | anyway, a bail bond is a waste of money. |
| arrested. Bail bondsmen get a lot of calls | | | | That's a good reason to find a local and |
| from friends or roommates, mainly because no | | | | reputable bail bondsman who understands the |
| kid wants to call his parents from jail. | | | | policies and procedures of area jails. They |
| Usually though, parents have to get involved | | | | can't give you legal advice, but they can |
| if bail is required. Even though college | | | | help you navigate through the jail system. |
| friends want to help, most don't have the | | | | |
| means to pay the full bail amount and often | | | | And remember, neither a bail bond nor a |
| don't qualify for a bail bond from a bail | | | | "cite-out" means that someone is cleared of |
| company. | | | | all charges. The legal process is just |
| | | | beginning. The student will probably still |
| A bail agent usually insists that a parent or | | | | be required to appear in court, may need an |
| family member get involved to vouch for the | | | | attorney, could still stand trial, and may |
| student and take responsibility for making | | | | have to pay a fine, perform community |
| sure he'll show up in court. Generally, | | | | service, take classes, or even serve jail |
| parents and grandparents know the student | | | | time. |
| best and know that the matter will be | | | | |
| addressed seriously. Distance isn't a | | | | Parents worried about letting their kids off |
| problem: bail agents work with clients around | | | | the hook by bailing them out of jail can |
| the world by phone, email, and fax. Most | | | | relax. An encounter with the police, jail |
| take credit cards and can handle wire | | | | system, and court process teaches a hard |
| transfers and other payment methods. When | | | | lesson that most kids never, ever forget. |