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