Whether it is justified or not, watching your friend getting arrested or finding out after the fact can be stressful and confusing.

But if you want to help your friend, it’s best not to let the confusion or stress get to you. Instead, there are 5 important steps you can follow to help your friend get free and start taking the necessary legal steps.

Keep reading to learn those 5 steps and how you can use them to help your friend after an arrest.

1. Stay Calm

The worst thing you can do when your friend is getting arrested is panic.

If you feel that your friend is being arrested unjustly, you might be tempted to argue with police. Even if you know the arrest is warranted, the adrenaline of the moment might have you raising your voice, getting aggressive, or otherwise acting out.

But the only thing this type of reaction is going to do is cause more trouble for yourself and your friend.

If the officer hasn’t actually decided to arrest your friend, causing a confrontation could turn a simple warning into something more serious. If he or she has started the arrest process, you could end up getting yourself in trouble with an obstruction of justice charge.

Instead, stay as calm as possible throughout the situation. If possible, encourage your friend and anyone else involved to do the same.

Answer the officer’s questions, stand to the side or wherever you’re instructed to, and wait until you’re addressed. Don’t flee the scene, as you’ll need to be around for the next step on this list.

2. Get Any Information You Can

What happens after arrest will vary depending on the situation. But no matter what happens, it’s important for you to start getting as much information as possible.

If you can, ask to talk with the officer or one of the officers at the scene. Ask questions about why your friend is being arrested, what happened to cause the arrest, and what happens after arrest in this situation.

Ask these questions even if you’ve been with your friend the entire time. You’ll need to know what the officers think happened so that during the next steps on this list you can compare that information to what you know happened.

If you can’t talk with an officer a the scene, you can visit the police station or ask for a phone number for the arresting officer. Once your friend has been taken to the police station, ask whether they may have been arrested but not booked.

If they have, there may still be a chance of release without a charge.

Besides asking questions both at the scene and after the arrest, you should also pay close attention to what is happening around you.

Listen to the officer to see if he or she read your friend their rights when arrested. Note any aggressive behavior from the officer that you think might not have been justified.

3. Contact a Bail Bondsman

If you want to help your friend, the next step immediately after they are arrested and taken away from the scene is to contact a bail bondsman.

A bail bondsman will help you navigate the process of posting bail for your friend to get them out of jail fast.

If you can’t afford bail, a bondsman can help. But even if you afford the bail, it’s a good idea to work with a bondsman.

They’ll have the knowledge and experience it takes to get your friend out as fast as possible so that you can start working to help them start preparing for what happens next.

4. Get a Lawyer

If the charges against your friend are serious, or you feel they are unjust, the next step towards helping them is to get a lawyer.

A lawyer can help them navigate the charges against them and decide what they need to do next.

If your friend is short on cash or confident that he or she has a good chance of fighting the charges against them, they can also choose to represent themselves. Just make sure that they understand exactly what they’re getting into before they make that choice.

5. Offer Your Support

Once your friend has obtained a lawyer, they may not need additional help from you.

But one last thing you can do for your friend is to offer your support.

Fill in your friend and their lawyer on what you say, heard, and found out at the scene. This includes any details about the arrest, the answers you got from the officer, and even your own observations.

If there were other witnesses at the scene, you might also provide names and contact information to the lawyer in case they need to use those witnesses in court. You might also be called as a witness.

Another method of support you can offer your friend is emotional support. If you were there when the event that led to their arrest happened, you’ll be in the unique position to lend an ear to your friend and help them talk through exactly what went down.

What to do if Your Friend is Getting Arrested

When your friend is getting arrested, it can be tempting to panic or even leave the scene entirely.

But whether you are involved in the event that got them arrested or not, if you want to help your friend, there are several things you need to do.

Stay on the scene and pay attention to everything that is happening. Talk with officers to find out what they think happened. Help your friend get out of jail by contacting a bondsman.

Then, help them find a lawyer and offer your support to help as they begin the legal battle that follows every arrest.

If your friend has been arrested, we can help. Once the smoke settles and your friend is charged, contact us to get your friend out of jail fast so that you can begin helping them fight their charges.

Did you decide to represent yourself in criminal court? If so, you’re doing something very risky. Very few people can effectively plead their case alone, without the aid of an experienced and respected lawyer.

But if your case is small or the other person is also unrepresented, you may have a chance to win your case.

However, you should never go in blind. There’s only a small chance you will win. You will have to make a compelling argument to the jury and the judge and you may even need to dress the part.

If you’re still making the decision to stand alone in court, here’s your guide to representing yourself in criminal court.

Understand Legal Names for the Parties Involved

Your first step is learning the legal names for all of the parties in the trial. This is easier said than done; legal names are complex and some are even in Latin.

Why do you need to know these names? The judge and your opponent’s attorney will refer to everyone in the court by these names.

Here’s a rundown of the names you need to memorize:

Pro Se Litigants: individuals in a civil lawsuit who are not represented by an attorney (in other words, you).

Pro Se Defendant: a Pro Se defendant is a defendant defending their own case (in other words, you).

Plaintiff: the person who’s filing the lawsuit (in other words, your opponent).

Prosecutor: the attorney that represents the state. They will present the evidence to the jury.

Knowing this basic information will increase your understanding of the court system.

Understand Court Rules

After you study the names and their meaning, you need to know the rules of court. This is a little more difficult because each state has their own rules including federal rules.

First, find out if your trial will be held in state or federal court. If it’s federal court, you’ll have to read either the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure or the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure or the Federal Rules of Evidence.

If your case is held in state court, you have to research the rules in your state. You can also contact the county clerk at the courthouse.

Provide an Answer to the Complaint

If your case is in civil court, you’ll receive a civil complaint. You don’t have to respond to this but it’s best that you do. If you don’t respond, the court will rule in favor of the plaintiff.

Before you respond, review the complaint. The complaint will list what you’re being sued for, how much, and how and when to respond. Retrieve an answer form; you can find them online and at the courthouse.

Your answer should be straightforward. Generally, you can decide to answer in one of four ways:

• You can deny the claim
• You can accept the claim
• You can state there’s not enough evidence in the claim
• Answer the way that fits best with the lawsuit.

Once your response is finished, pay the filing fee.

File a Cross-Complaint (If Applicable)

If you’re fully sure you’re innocent, you can file a cross-complaint. In other words, you’re suing the plaintiff who’s suing you. But you can only sue the plaintiff if your complaint relates to the one against you.

It’s highly recommended you have an attorney if you go this route. But if your case is small or the plaintiff isn’t represented, you can easily do this yourself.

Research the Law

Before court, research the exact law you’re being sued for. In addition to searching the general law, research the claims for both a defendant and a plaintiff.

But pay more attention to the defense portion of the law. This way, you can effectively defend your position.

Conduct Discovery

After you file your answer, a process called discovery begins. This means either party can request information from their opponents. This can help strengthen your defense.

This includes facts about the charges, evidence, witnesses, and even what arguments the opponent will make.

Discovery has two different categories: formal and informal.

In formal discovery, you’ll gain information by asking your opponent questions, interviewing other persons related to the case, requesting necessary documents, and ordering a subpoena.

You can also take the informal route. This includes conducting interviews, gathering documents, and even taking photographs or video.

Attend All Required Court Appearances

Your court date isn’t the only court appearance required. Many cases call for a pretrial. This is when all parties meet with the judge and discuss how the trial will play out.

You’ll have to discuss certain topics, such as:

• Settlement
• Scheduling a trial date
• The discovery process (whether ongoing or finished)
• Conceding issues not included in the dispute (if applicable)

You may have one pretrial date or even several.

Try and Settle the Case Outside of Court

If you can, settle the case outside of court. This helps if you personally know the plaintiff.

These are called a settlement conference. You two will meet with a third party to come to an agreement.

This is the recommended course of action, especially if you’re not represented. You’ll save a lot of time and money because you won’t endure a trial.

You can also have more control because you’re not leaving the decision up to a judge or a jury.

Representing Yourself in Criminal Court Isn’t Easy

As you can guess, representing yourself in criminal court isn’t easy. The stakes increase if you’re the defendant. But if your case is small and if the plaintiff isn’t represented, you may be able to win without an attorney.

Be sure to research and submit all documents on time. If you can, come to a settlement outside of court.

Do you need a bail bond while you or a loved one is in jail? If you’re in California, contact us.

Innocent until proven guilty, the presumption of innocence, the Sixth Amendment of the Constitution: each of these imply that the defendant on trial is not yet guilty of associated crimes. Unfortunately, appearing in court clad in an orange jail jumpsuit and handcuffs does not scream ‘innocent!’

It is standard for inmates to wear jail clothes to an arraignment or other hearings. However, this practice is detrimental to those that are forced to wear jail or prison garb to a jury trial.

We are going to take a look at how donning a jail jumpsuit can affect the outcome of your trial and how to prevent this from happening.

The Purpose of the Orange Jail Jumpsuit

If you’ve never been to jail or known anyone that has, it is still likely that you’ve seen the striped black and white jumpsuits on older television shows. No matter how or where you’ve seen these clothes, it is a common theme in jails.

A more current look in institutions is typically a neon orange color, with the word ‘inmate’ painted across the back. Other facilities may have different colors or use stripes. However, it all serves the same purpose: security within the confines of the jail.

Dressing inmates in certain colors will allow officers to quickly see anyone who is out of place. This is a great way to keep inmates where they’re supposed to be, as well as giving the corrections team the ability to identify those who are flight risks or dangerous.

Inmates are also clothed in jail jumpsuits to discourage escape attempts. If an inmate attempts to leave in his jail clothes, the general population will know he doesn’t belong and officers can apprehend him.

First Appearances Count

If you think about any tv show or movie that depicts a jail or prison, the people found inside are often guilty. If the character is not actually guilty, they are in jail because they were found guilty.

Are all people in jail or prison guilty? No, but the media often displays them as such.

It is easy to make the association that a person in an orange jail jumpsuit and handcuffs is guilty. Jurors will see the defendant and subconsciously decide whether or not that person committed a crime before any facts are even presented.

It comes down to looking as much like everyone else as possible. No one in the courtroom will be wearing an orange jail jumpsuit but the defendant. This makes them easy to spot and easy to gawk at.

As a defendant, your behavior is important–but it won’t change the jurors’ first impression of you. Unfortunately, Justice isn’t as blind as she used to be and stereotypes are followed all too closely.

What Not to Wear

To some, it may seem obvious that oversized t-shirts, baggy pants, plunging necklines, or mini skirts have no place in the courtroom.

While these may be obvious, casual attire such as jeans, work boots, sneakers, and even fitted t-shirts for men are not appropriate. Women should stay away from overly tight, short, or revealing clothes, also veering from bold prints and bright colors.

The key to dressing in a courtroom is being conservative, humble, and likable. This includes your hairstyle, choice of jewelry, and makeup.

If you are incarcerated at the time of your jury trial, speak with your attorney. Quite often, your attorney can arrange for you to change from your jail jumpsuit into civilian clothes before entering the courtroom.

No Orange Jumpsuit Here

To ensure you will not appear in court clad in your orange jail jumpsuit, consider using a bail bondsman. Taking this route will allow you to choose your own clothes on the day of trial, and not appear in handcuffs.

Bonding out of jail can also afford you the opportunity to relax a bit, get your hair taken care of, and show up with your game face on. Having a chance to prepare while you are out of jail will also allow your attorney to instruct you on body language–which is as important as the clothes you wear.

Each of these aspects–the hair, body language, and clothes–all play a part in how you are perceived by your jury. It is also important to think about the conditions in jail and how those conditions affect your overall behavior and demeanor.

Opting to bond out of jail before the jury sees you for the first time can allow you time to adjust to being a civilian. Not only do you get to take the physical orange jumpsuit off, but you can remove it from your mind.

This might sound odd, but spending any amount of time in jail will force you to become guarded, untrusting, and hyperaware. These are survival mechanisms from your brain but can be offputting to a jury.

Remain Innocent Until Proven Otherwise

Being accused of a crime is NOT the same as being convicted of one! Unfortunately, when locked up, the mentality you adopt will inevitably show guilt. Coupling that mentality with an orange jail jumpsuit can make even the most innocent man seem at fault.

It is imperative to your case and your freedom that you arrive at court in conservative business attire. It is equally as important to arrive mentally prepared, showing a humble (not hardened) demeanor.

This is why we recommend allowing us to post your bail. We will help get you home faster which will allow you to meet with your counsel and prepare for your case.

Using a bail bondsman doesn’t have to be scary, and no one should treat you as a criminal. Our mentality is that you haven’t been proven guilty and should be given the benefit of the doubt.

If you or a loved one has been accused of a crime or landed in jail, getting out quickly should be the first thing on your list. To do this, contact us to get the ball rolling.