If you have been arrested and charged with a crime you are probably wondering what your next step should be. You will have a chance to plead guilty or not guilty. If you plead not guilty, you will have to wait for a trial. During that time, you can either wait in prison or you can post bail. Here are some reasons to post bail rather than wait in jail.
1. You Aren't Sure You Will Get A Guilty Sentence
Some people think that may be worth staying in prison rather than post bail because there is a good chance they will get a guilty sentence anyway. If you do choose to stay in jail, then the days that you have spent there will act as a credit towards your sentence. Thus, you could get it over with quicker it you stay in jail.
However, you are taking a big risk if you say in prison for that reason. The jails are overbooked, and you aren't sure that you will get a guilty sentence. Even if you do get a guilty sentence, there is a chance that you will be fined, have community service, or be put on house arrest. That is why it is better to avoid the jail time if you can.
2. You Can Prove Good Behavior While Waiting
While you are out on bail your behavior will matter. If the judge sees that you were doing what you can to clean up your act, stay out of trouble, and work to provide for your family, it could help your case. This kind of good behavior can lessen a sentence, or can work towards your favor for your defense.
3. The Trail Can Go Cold
You have no idea how long it will take for the prosecution to build a case against you. There are so many factors that go into putting a case together, so there is a chance that it could take weeks, months, even years until it is ready to go to trial. Do you really want to risk that by staying in jail? Get out on bail, and do something with your time that is productive and that proves that you are a good contributing citizen. This will help your case.
By understanding these things you can determine if posting bail is right for you. For more information, contact a business such as The Fitzpatrick Law Firm.
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