A Shoplifting Attorney Answers Your Questions About Shoplifting Laws

You or a loved one has been arrested in what could prove to be one of the worst days of your life. One finds themselves in jail after an arrest with one thought, "Get me out of here!" Sometimes the decision on how to get out of jail once a criminal case has been brought is not such an easy decision. In consultation with a criminal or DUI defense attorney, the following questions must be asked:

1.) If convicted of the crime charged, what are the chances I would go back to jail? This is a critical question to be asked of your criminal defense attorney. If for example, a case is strong, and if one has a prior conviction(s) against them, thought should be given to remaining in jail while a prosecution is pending. Why? Because the time served can aid a criminal attorney in plea negotiations as to one's long term future. However, if one has no prior criminal history to speak of, a criminal or DUI lawyer may very well advise that bond should be posted as soon as possible to secure one's release. Why? Because one with no prior criminal history may very well find that the likelihood of them returning to jail after a criminal lawyer negotiates a plea agreement or even if one is convicted of a crime is minimal.

2.) What kind of bond has been set in my case? The type of bond a judge sets in a criminal or DUI case is critical to a decision on whether to first to hire a criminal attorney or to first post a bond. In most criminal or drunk driving cases, a judge will order two types of bond that can be set at his or her discretion.

A Cash Bond is a bond where all or most of the money posted, usually with a police department or court clerk, will be returned to the person posting the bond once a criminal case has ended, and the criminal defendant has shown up for all court dates. The problem posed in many criminal arrests is that  if a cash bond is ordered , many people may not be able to afford the cash bond. For example, a $25,000 cash bond means just that. $25,000 must be posted or you or a loved one will remain in jail until a criminal prosecution is concluded.

A Surety Bond is where a "bondsmen" comes into play. A bondsmen earns a living by assuring that a Defendant appears in criminal court after a criminal arrest for a felony or misdemeanor crime. As a result of him or her guaranteeing one's appearance in criminal court, a lower bond amount may typically be paid. However, the bondsmen will typically take 10% of the bond amount for the bail bondsmen’s services. For example, a $2,500 bond would require a non refundable payment of $250 dollars to a bondsmen.

Difficult decisions arise when one can barely find the money to afford to post the cash bond or surety bond that has been set after a criminal arrest for a felony crime or misdemeanor. In such circumstances, one must refer to paragraph one to make the important decision whether based upon the severity of the crime charged and the criminal history of the person facing a criminal offense, whether a bond should be posted first or at all, or whether that money would be better spent toward promptly retaining a top criminal defense attorney or DUI lawyer to protect one's long term future as soon as possible.