Turning Yourself In? What You Need to Know
Sometimes your entire day can be flipped upside down in a matter of moments. This is especially true for those going through legal troubles. Whether you missed court dates, violated your probation or didn’t pay your fines, an arrest warrant means you must turn yourself in to law enforcement. This may have come as a shock to you, or maybe you knew it was coming. Regardless of your experience with the legal system, having to…
Top 3 Crimes in Harris County
With a great population comes great crime, and Harris County definitely has a great population. In fact, it’s the most populous county in Texas, and third most populous in the entire country. Within its borders are Houston, Spring, Cypress, Humble, La Porte, and Pasadena to name just a few. As some may know, Humble is considered the most dangerous city in Texas and has some of the highest crime rates around. However, we’ve compiled the…
Will You Get Your Bail Money Back?
Those who have experienced going to jail and being convicted of a crime have often wondered: where does the bail money go? For parents, friends or colleagues who have bailed a loved one out of jail, the curious sentiment remains: “will I get my bail money back?” While there isn’t always a straight answer, there are guidelines and requirements that help clear the picture. For instance, while the term “bail bonds” are often used in…
When Can Courts Deny Bail?
Before we get started, let’s explain bail. Bail is a trade—of either property or money—with a court for releasing a defendant from jail in exchange for their return to court for trial. If the defendant doesn’t appear on the scheduled court date, the bail will then be forfeited. That means you won’t get your money back—trust us, it’s not worth fleeing. However, suspects fleeing or not appearing for their court date is uncommon. Fortunately, it’s…
10 Ways to Have a Safe Police Encounter
Being stopped by the police is a frightening experience. While it’s true that everyone has a different experience when encountering the police, there are definitive ways to increase your chances of having a safe police encounter. When being stopped or pulled over by the police in Texas or anywhere else in the country, follow these ten pieces of advice to ensure a safe police encounter, and a safe return home. RELATED: Have an Active Warrant?…
Have an Active Warrant? Here’s How to Avoid Jail
Receiving that letter about a warrant is scary, we know. We deal with active warrants on a daily basis, and sit through many consultations with both individuals and families dealing with warrants. While it may seem scary thinking about law enforcement technically searching for you, don’t panic. You do have many ways to work around an active warrant—without going to jail. Before we start, it’s important to know exactly where you stand with the legal…
How to Tell Your Boss About an Arrest… and Keep Your Job
Whether you’re preparing to go to jail or you just got out, your job may be a looming thought on your mind. If you were arrested unexpectedly, did you get a chance to call your employer first? If you’re planning to turn yourself in, did you let your employer know? There are many deciding factors around retaining a job after going to jail, but a lot of them depend on two crucial elements: communication and…
How to Use Credit to Your Advantage With a Bail Bond
If you’ve ever had to spend the night in jail or know someone who’s been arrested, you know that dealing with the legal system—in jail, no less—can evoke feelings of loss and hopelessness. This is especially true when the judge sets a high bail bond that’s seemingly impossible to simply dish out cash for, much less on the spot. Moreover, Being in Houston, those bail bond amounts are no easy feat; Harris County judges are…
A Friend’s in Jail… What Can You Do?
In the state of Texas, committing a crime doesn’t earn you a slap on the wrist—no, Texas makes sure criminals feel the full force of the justice system at work. In fact, according to a survey reported by The Nation publication, around 70% of people currently in US jails haven’t been convicted of a crime—they merely cannot afford to leave. Being convicted of a crime is not only time consuming, but expensive. Even traffic tickets…
The Damon Allen Act: What it is, and Why it Matters
In August of last year, Texas Governor Greg Abbott proposed the Damon Allen Act. This bill is a set of proposals aimed at protecting police officers and communities after a repeat-criminal gunned down a Texas trooper last Thanksgiving. In fact, there are two sets of bail reform bills named after a Texas trooper killed by a suspect out of jail on bond. Both for assaulting a sheriff’s deputy. The criminal in Damon Allen’s case had not…