When a loved one is arrested, it can be a stressful and confusing time. But there are steps you can take to help them out, even if you’re not a lawyer. At Acumen, we receive calls from people in custody or their friends and family members seeking legal advice. A common question people will ask us is whether or not they can help with the bail process.
If you want to bail out your friend or family member, it’s crucial to constantly be accessible by phone. The person arrested may be calling you for assistance whether that be helping them to find a lawyer or figuring out their next steps. It is important to keep track of where they are, what they are charged with, who the charging officer is, and the best phone number you can reach them at.
The person in custody will have the opportunity to call a lawyer from custody for some legal advice, but it is unlikely they will be able to hire a lawyer without your help. You can contact a lawyer on their behalf and hire them to represent the person in custody. Most lawyers can be retained by credit card payment or email money transfer, and since the person in jail will not have access to their money, your help with this is very important.
Once you’ve hired a criminal defence lawyer, they can assist in contacting your loved one while they’re detained and attempt to negotiate their release with the Crown or litigate their release in a Court bail hearing. Your lawyer will also be able to get information about where your loved one is being detained, which can be crucial in securing their release.
When a loved one is in custody, it’s natural to feel overwhelmed and unsure of what to do. But with the right steps, you can help them secure their release and get the legal assistance they need. At Acumen, we are here to provide you with the support and advice you need.