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What Are My Rights After Being Arrested in Orange County, California?
Having a police officer place you under arrest can be a confusing and chaotic experience. It’s perfectly natural to feel frightened and anxious if you find yourself in this situation, and you’ll probably have numerous questions running through your head.
However, it’s vital that you stay calm and understand your rights from the moment you’re detained. Knowing how to act can produce better outcomes for you in the courts and minimize your stress.
It doesn’t matter if law enforcement witnesses you committing a crime, you’re a suspect in a felony, or there’s a warrant for your arrest; your constitutional rights remain the same. Learning these rights can prevent you from accidentally incriminating yourself in a pressure-filled situation.
The police must follow specific procedures when incarcerating you. Here’s some information on your rights after being arrested in Orange County, California.
Right to Remain Silent
You’ve probably heard this right mentioned when watching a cop movie, but it’s absolutely true. You do have the right to remain silent after an arrest. Keep in mind that the arresting officer might not inform you of this right, which is why you must understand how it works.
This right means you don’t have to tell the officer anything about yourself or your actions besides your name. It’s a good idea to exercise this right because law enforcement can use anything you say in this scenario against you in court. You don’t want to accidentally incriminate yourself by saying the wrong thing, so it’s best to stay completely silent until you have a lawyer present.
Exercising your right to remain silent is as simple as politely telling the arresting officer you wish to stay quiet and that you’d like to speak with an attorney.
After the police arrest you, they’ll take you to the station for booking. You’re then permitted to make a phone call a reasonable time after arriving at the station. Remember, though, officers can listen to your phone call if you place it to a friend or family member. They aren’t allowed to eavesdrop if you call an attorney.
Right to an Attorney
Next, you can exercise your right to an attorney. Don’t speak with any investigators until your attorney is present and you’ve had the opportunity to talk privately with them. Your lawyer will ensure you don’t incriminate yourself and that investigating officers follow the rules.
If you don’t have a lawyer and can’t afford one, the courts must appoint an attorney to your case. This attorney will act on your behalf, so once again, don’t speak with any investigators until this legal professional is in the room with you.
Your attorney will communicate with you and your family throughout the proceedings, provide insight into the charges against you, and inform you of your options. The more you understand the situation, the easier it is to remain calm and move forward with a clear head.
Your Arraignment
In some situations, you’ll be released after booking on your own recognizance. This scenario is typically reserved for minor offenses, but you might have to return to court at a later date. Don’t miss that court date, or you’ll end up with a warrant for your arrest.
If there was already a warrant for your arrest or the crime you’re accused of is a felony, you’ll undoubtedly have to attend an arrangement hearing before you have a chance of being released. You must be taken before a judge as quickly as possible, and most arraignment hearings occur within 48 hours of an arrest. However, weekends and holidays can extend this timeline.
Your arraignment hearing is where the judge informs you of your rights and reads the charges against you. From there, you’ll enter a plea, which determines how the case will proceed moving forward.
The judge will also grant or deny bail and set the amount. The bail amount represents the money you’ll have to come up with to be released while waiting for your trial.
Fortunately, there are some options available regarding bail. You’ll want to learn about these options before heading to court.
Getting Bail
There’s a good chance the bail the judge sets will be a significant amount, so coming up with the money could pose some challenges. Of course, you can ask friends and family to post bail for you, but it could leave them in a challenging financial situation they’ll want to avoid. An alternative is seeking an Orange County CA bail bonds service.
Bail bond providers offer bailouts for all types of crimes, including assault, burglary, drug possession, and DUI. Collateral isn’t always necessary, as it all depends on the situation at hand.
You’ll need a friend or family member to act as a co-signer and pay the premium, which is a percentage of the total amount, to receive this bond. You can then sign this money over to the courts and get out of jail while waiting for your trial.
Orange County Bail Bonds is a family-owned business offering bail money in Anaheim, Huntington Beach, Santa Ana, Newport Beach, Irvine, Laguna Beach, and many other locations throughout Southern California. We can be at the courthouse in minutes, and our 8% premium is the lowest you’ll find anywhere.
Contact Orange County Bail Bonds toll-free at (800) 422-4540 or 714-543-8688 for more information on this essential service in Southern California.