3 Reasons You Should Always Post Bail If You Are Arrested
If you have been arrested and charged with a crime, you are probably wondering if you should post bail or wait it out in prison. The majority of the time you should post bail if possible. Here are some reasons why.
1. You Don't Know What The Sentence Will Be
One of the main reasons to not wait out the time between your plea and your trial in jail is that you have no idea what the outcome will be. Some people already know that if you wait in prison for your sentencing, the time that you spent in prison will actually go towards your overall time spent in prison. So if you were sentenced a year, and already spent 3 months in prison, you will only have to complete the last 9 months after the trial. However, there is a chance that you will be found not guilty, and additionally, you don't know what the judge is going to sentence. The prisons are overcrowded and if possible, the judge will try to find other ways to carry out your sentencing, especially if the charge is only a misdemeanor. Thus, you could spend time in prison when you didn't have to at all.
2. You Can Prove Your Character
Another reason to post bail is that the time between your plea and your sentencing is critical time to prove your character. If the judge can see that you are working hard to turn your life around, that you have had no more run ins with the law, and if you are showing that you are contributing citizen to society, it will greatly help your case and your situation. You can't prove your character nearly as easily if you are in prison and unable to show how valuable you are to the community.
3. You Won't Have Access To The Facilities and Advantages While Waiting For Trial
Lastly, the limbo time between your trial and your plea is different than many people think. You will not be booked in the place where there is access to libraries, gyms, classes and so forth. Instead, you will be in a limbo place where you won't have the advantages of a full functioning rehabilitation center. Don't do this to yourself. Instead, post the bail and take your chances, then even if you are sentenced, the time you spend in prison won't be so challenging.
For more information, talk to a professional like Robert A Murray.