An Attorney"s Role in Jail Release in Texas
Being arrested and charged with a crime can be both challenging and overwhelming.
The accused may not be familiar with the criminal process and may not know what steps need to be taken to ensure his or her rights are represented.
Having a criminal defense attorney can speed up the process.
Throughout Texas, including Travis County, the criminal process begins when a person is arrested and taken to jail.
He or she then is booked into the facility and law enforcement take fingerprints and a photograph.
Officers also will take the person's name and all other required information under law and county procedure.
The alleged offender would not have access to any of his or her personal items, including a cell phone, after the booking process is completed.
The person would be held in jail until he or she is scheduled to appear in front of a judge, which likely would happen within 48 hours of his or her arrest.
In Travis County, once a person is booked into the jail, he or she is allowed one free, 20-minute phone call to an attorney while awaiting an appearance before a judge, according to the Travis County Sheriff's Office's website.
This is an opportunity to secure legal counsel to help with the first appearance.
One of the most significant factors in determining when a person will be released will be how quickly he or she appears before a magistrate judge.
If someone was arrested late at night or early in the morning, he or she usually will not be seen by the judge or have the bail amount set until the next day or later.
This could mean several pointless hours being held in a jail cell.
A criminal defense attorney, however, typically can speed up the process by a considerable amount of time.
An attorney can use his or her knowledge of the legal system to help a client meet with a judge sooner than if he or she chose to wait in jail.
A lawyer also can interview his or her client during this time to discuss crucial details about the charges, start the bond paperwork and complete necessary background checks.
This could make a dramatic difference in the total time a person would spend behind bars in Texas.
The arresting officer with the Austin Police Department or Travis County Sheriff's Office will file a police report while the accused is in jail.
A magistrate judge will review the document, the charges against the person and the inmate's criminal history.
The judge will determine the type or types of bail bond the inmate may use to bond out of jail, and the amount of the bail bond.
A criminal defense attorney may be able to push for a personal bond, which often is the most desirable type of bond payment.
Being allowed a personal bond could make the difference of thousands of dollars.
In this case, the inmate typically is required only to pay a $20 administrative fee or 3 percent of the bond set within seven days of release.
The accused may not be familiar with the criminal process and may not know what steps need to be taken to ensure his or her rights are represented.
Having a criminal defense attorney can speed up the process.
Throughout Texas, including Travis County, the criminal process begins when a person is arrested and taken to jail.
He or she then is booked into the facility and law enforcement take fingerprints and a photograph.
Officers also will take the person's name and all other required information under law and county procedure.
The alleged offender would not have access to any of his or her personal items, including a cell phone, after the booking process is completed.
The person would be held in jail until he or she is scheduled to appear in front of a judge, which likely would happen within 48 hours of his or her arrest.
In Travis County, once a person is booked into the jail, he or she is allowed one free, 20-minute phone call to an attorney while awaiting an appearance before a judge, according to the Travis County Sheriff's Office's website.
This is an opportunity to secure legal counsel to help with the first appearance.
One of the most significant factors in determining when a person will be released will be how quickly he or she appears before a magistrate judge.
If someone was arrested late at night or early in the morning, he or she usually will not be seen by the judge or have the bail amount set until the next day or later.
This could mean several pointless hours being held in a jail cell.
A criminal defense attorney, however, typically can speed up the process by a considerable amount of time.
An attorney can use his or her knowledge of the legal system to help a client meet with a judge sooner than if he or she chose to wait in jail.
A lawyer also can interview his or her client during this time to discuss crucial details about the charges, start the bond paperwork and complete necessary background checks.
This could make a dramatic difference in the total time a person would spend behind bars in Texas.
The arresting officer with the Austin Police Department or Travis County Sheriff's Office will file a police report while the accused is in jail.
A magistrate judge will review the document, the charges against the person and the inmate's criminal history.
The judge will determine the type or types of bail bond the inmate may use to bond out of jail, and the amount of the bail bond.
A criminal defense attorney may be able to push for a personal bond, which often is the most desirable type of bond payment.
Being allowed a personal bond could make the difference of thousands of dollars.
In this case, the inmate typically is required only to pay a $20 administrative fee or 3 percent of the bond set within seven days of release.
