What are the first things I should do if I’m arrested?

The first thing that you want to do if you’re arrested is you want to make it to a bond hearing and you want to be released from custody. I have found over the years from talking to people and it took me a while to realize this; when somebody is arrested I believe they go into shock, their body goes into shock. Their life starts flashing before their eyes; they really are just in a full-blown state of panic and don’t know what to do.

So in that instance, the important thing to do is to try to stay calm, understand that you are going to go to a bond hearing, you are going to have an opportunity for a bond to be set and for you to be released. The allegation is simply the charge, almost everyone is entitled to be released on bail; the two considerations in a bond hearing are whether or not you are a flight risk or whether or not you’re a danger to the community.

Most people get a bond set and are able to be released. Talking to law enforcement at that stage it’s not going to help you. You’ve already been arrested. Additionally, telephone calls out of the jail, visitations done on the telephone, all of those are recorded and the police and prosecuting attorneys listen to those quite frequently.