Why You Should Always Hire A Criminal Defense Lawyer Before Bailing Out If You Have Been Accused Of A Crime

We are often asked, “If I am arrested, should I hire a bondsman or an experienced criminal defense attorney first?”. Our answer is simple: You should always hire a criminal defense lawyer first, before spending any money on a bail bondsman.

Our experienced criminal defense attorneys at Wallin & Klarich can guide you through the legal process. Call Wallin & Klarich today toll-free at (877) 466-5245 for your free consultation with our experienced attorneys.

Key Reasons Why You Should Always Hire A Criminal Defense Lawyer First

You should always hire a criminal defense lawyer before making any decisions about your case, including hiring a bail bondsman. Here is a comprehensive outline that contains the key reasons why you should always hire a criminal defense lawyer first:

The Bail Amount: In every case, if you were to be arrested you would either be released without having to post bail (called released on your own recognizance) or you would remain in custody until you post the required bail amount. It is our advise that you not rush to pay a bondsman money to bail you out for the following reasons:

1. You would have to pay a bondsman 10% of the bail amount, which you would not get back after you pay the bail amount. For example, if the bail amount is $50,000, then you would pay $5,000 to a bondsman. You would be released from jail a few hours after bail is posted by the bail bondsman. You would then be given a new court date. When you appear at the first court, the prosecutor may ask for the bail amount to be increased. If the judge decides to raise the bail amount, then the money you paid to a bondsman will be gone. You would now have to post a higher bail and would pay a bondsman even more money.
2. In many cases, if you hire a criminal defense lawyer, they can take steps to try to have the bail lowered or they could get you released without having to post bail at all. In such a case, you would have saved any money you would have spent on a bail bondsman.
3. If you hire a criminal defense lawyer before posting bail, and they recommend you post bail, you should receive a discounted fee from the bondsman from 10% to 8% (this is called attorney referred bail). This would mean in our example above you would save $1,000 in bail bond fees by hiring an experienced criminal defense lawyer before posting bail. . 
4. Your criminal defense lawyer may recommend that you NOT post bail until your first court date because they believe they may be able to convince the prosecutor not to file charges. In the example case, you would be released from custody and would have saved $5,000.
5. In some cases, the evidence is clear that you are guilty of a serious crime. A criminal defense lawyer can evaluate the case and may advise not to bail you out of jail. This would happen in a case where it is very likely that you will be found guilty of some crime and will have to serve jail time. If that is the case, you may decide not to bail out of jail to save the money you would otherwise pay to a bondsman that you would not get back.
6. If bail is necessary, an experienced criminal defense lawyer can refer you to a reputable bondsman that they have worked with in the past. This way, you will know that you will be released from custody soon in most cases.
7. It is critical to hire a criminal defense lawyer as soon as you have been arrested. You will likely not be familiar with the criminal justice system, which can be very complicated to understand. You will need to make crucial decisions that can impact the rest of your life. Not only can a criminal defense lawyer advise you as to whether to post bail, but they can inform you of all aspects of how they will defend you against the crime or crimes you are facing. Some of the important things that a criminal defense attorney can do to help you prevail in your case are as follows:

• A criminal defense lawyer can obtain the police reports to determine if any or all of the evidence in the case being brought against you can be thrown out of court due to police misconduct.
• A criminal defense lawyer can analyze how strong the case is against you and recommend whether you should demand a jury trial or accept a fair plea bargain to end the case.
• A criminal defense lawyer can determine what witnesses need to be interviewed for your case. They can also employ an investigator who can obtain important witness statements.
• A criminal defense lawyer can negotiate with the prosecution to obtain the best result possible in your case, which might be a dismissal.
• In a case where you are guilty of a crime, a criminal defense lawyer knows about “alternatives” to jail time. These alternatives often allow you to save your job while doing “self help” classes or community service instead of jail time.

Contact Wallin & Klarich Today

If you have just been arrested, you need to contact an aggressive criminal attorney before you bail out. At Wallin & Klarich we will fight for your freedom. With 40+ years of experience, our attorneys at Wallin & Klarich have helped thousands of clients win their cases or get their charges reduced to a lesser degree. We know the most effective defenses to argue on your behalf, and we will do everything in our power to help you achieve the best possible result in your case.

You may not be aware of all your options. Calling our office costs you nothing, but picking up the phone could be the difference between years in prison and years of freedom. Let our skilled attorneys examine your case to find the best way to avoid prison. We have offices in Irvine, Tustin, Pasadena, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Torrance, Victorville, West Covina, and Anaheim.

Discover how our team can assist you. Contact us today, toll-free at (877) 4-NO-JAIL or (877)466-5245 for a free consultation with a skilled defense attorney.

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