Every citizen has rights within the law that help protect them from injustice. Even if you’re arrested, the law still provides some protection so that everything proceeds as fairly as possible. However, some people don’t realize their rights and miss opportunities that could help them. Learn more about your rights when you get arrested.
Knowledge is power, and knowing your rights will put you in a better mindset when you get cuffed.
Your Rights to Saving Your Life
Our forefathers and lawmakers do their best to ensure that every party in a trial is treated fairly and humanely. So, even if you’re behind bars, you still have access to rights that can help you. After all, you could waste your life behind bars if you’re wrongly accused or arrested. Here are some of the basic rights you have.
- Right to Bail
- Right to Legal Representation
- Right to Charges Information
Right to Bail
When someone’s detained, they have the right to bail out of jail. Bail is an amount of money that you can pay to free yourself from jail before your official court hearing. Of course, there are many restrictions after you’re freed, but you can continue with your normal life while waiting for your court date.
According to the Eight Amendment, bail can’t be set too high and must consider the nature of the offense and the likelihood that the accused will appear in court. In other words, the judge will set the amount of bail based on the offense (i.e., higher bail is set for more serious crimes, and vice versa).
Right to Legal Representation
Anyone detained has a right to legal counsel during the arraignment process. Arraignment is the formal reading of criminal charges in the presence of the defendant, informing them of the official charges against them. This is usually the fourth step in a case, often held after the initial bail hearing.
No matter what you’re up against, ASAP Bail Bonds has the knowledge and skill to get you free.
During this hearing, your lawyer can advise you on what plea could be suitable given the current facts of the case. As your legal counsel, your lawyer will work to safeguard your constitutional rights and ensure your best interests are protected.
Right to Charges Information
If you’ve been arrested, you have the right to know the charges against you and any supporting documentation. As a result, law enforcement officers are required to provide information about what they think happened during their investigation as well as any supporting documents. With the aid of appropriate legal counsel, you can use this evidence to develop a defense.
Give Your Life Some Semblance of Order
Of course, our legal system is much more complex than this. However, the first thing to do when you’ve been arrested is to take a deep breath and calm down. It’s not the end of the world just yet. First, get through the initial bail hearing and contact ASAP Bail Bonds to take advantage of the right to bail.
Based in the greater Houston area, we work with residents of several counties in the surrounding areas to give them a few more days of freedom to get their life in order before their trial. Call our Harris County office today to speak with an agent and learn more about your right to bail.