How to Help a Friend Who Gets Arrested in the Middle of the Night

Uh-oh. The police just arrested your friend and hauled him off to jail in the middle of the night. You don't want to leave your friend all alone but aren't sure what to do. Don't panic. Depending on the extent of the infraction, there are a few things you can do to help your friend.

Instructions

1. Remain calm. Many people get arrested in the middle of the night for misdemeanors such as underage drinking, marijuana possession and disorderly conduct. Although your friend most likely regrets her behavior, she is probably not in danger.

2. Realize that the process of completing an arrest takes time. Even if you were able to get down to the police station immediately, you would not be able to see your friend for quite a while. He must be booked on charges first. The police must decide if they can release him on bail, and other prisoners may have more immediate needs.

3. Call the police precinct that arrested her. Once the police admit and process your friend, the officers can communicate with you about her situation. Don't expect to talk to someone immediately after the arrest. Station personnel do not know specifics about the situation until someone processes your friend.

4. Ask if the police can release your friend on bail. If the answer is "yes," you have two options. Pay the full bail amount yourself or contact a bail bond company. If you can afford it, it's faster to pay the bail yourself. For expensive bail amounts, contract a bail bond company to come to the jail. You pay them a percentage of the bail fee, and they negotiate with the jail to release your friend.

5. Understand how a bail bond works. You guarantee that your friend shows up for his court hearing. If he does not, the bail bond company comes after you financially for the remainder of the bail amount. Some bail bond companies require that you pledge (co-sign) personal property, such as your car or house, as collateral against your friend fleeing the jurisdiction and breaking his bail. Take posting bail for someone very seriously.

6. Drive to the jail to pick up your friend. Pay her bail, or meet the bail company on site to work out agreements for bail bonding.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure the bail bond company you contact can conduct business in the city or county jail that imprisons your friend.

• Consider contacting a lawyer if your friend has committed a serious infraction or you believe he is wrongfully accused.

• Avoid driving to the jail while intoxicated. The last thing you need is to end up in the jail beside your friend.