| The parents of college students know that college is | | | | answer some questions about yourself, the student, |
| an expensive venture. Throughout the coming school | | | | and share some financial information. The bail bond |
| year they know they'll write checks for tuition, dorm | | | | interview process may seem intrusive, but it's a |
| furnishings, books, meal plans, and, of course, there will | | | | necessary part of determining risk. If the person getting |
| be unplanned expenses. All parents expect to get calls | | | | bailed out doesn't show up in court, the bail bond agent, |
| asking for more money, but few are prepared for their | | | | and ultimately the person who bailed him or her out, is |
| son or daughter to call from jail and ask for bail bond | | | | liable for the full bail amount. Agents have to be very |
| money. | | | | careful and make sure they're dealing with people who |
| This isn't just an unexpected expense; it's the shock of | | | | will take responsibility for the situation and keep their |
| an arrest of a young adult. It's not just a financial | | | | promises to appear in court. |
| decision; it's an emotional and emotionally challenging | | | | For parents, it's terrifying to have a child in jail and even |
| time for parents and students. | | | | worse if the jail is out of state. But bail bond agents |
| Most parents have no idea what to do next and are | | | | can help you 24 hours a day no matter where you're |
| full of questions. Should they stay out of it and "teach | | | | located. They'll explain how bail bonds work, provide |
| the kid a lesson" or post bail? If they want to help, | | | | payment options, and advise you on whether you |
| what's the next step? Can they even afford to pay | | | | even need to start the bail bond process. |
| for a bail bond? Is it possible to bail out someone in | | | | Most Arrests Involve Alcohol or Drug Offenses |
| another state? The best way to get answers is to call | | | | Unfortunately, alcohol abuse is about as common as |
| an expert - a licensed bail agent. | | | | skipping classes on college campuses - and may |
| Parents' Dilemma: To Bail or Not to Bail? | | | | actually cause absences. According to studies |
| The most common question most parents ask is: | | | | compiled at CollegeDrinkingPrevention.gov, 25% of |
| "should I post bail?" They're thinking of all the times | | | | college students report that excessive drinking has |
| they sternly told their teen (and maybe their parent's | | | | caused academic problems. The same Web site |
| told them): "you go to jail, be prepared to spend the | | | | reports that: "...an estimated 110,000 students a year |
| night." A night in jail is a lesson nobody will ever forget. | | | | are arrested for an alcohol-related violation such as |
| However, jail conditions vary widely. For instance, in | | | | driving under the influence or public drunkenness." |
| Los Angeles County, a college student who isn't bailed | | | | Drinking problems aren't limited to campuses. A |
| out quickly from a local jail may end up in the Twin | | | | substantial number of students become involved in bar |
| Towers or Men's Central Jail facilities. We're not talking | | | | fights, heated disagreements at sporting events, and |
| about the Mayberry jail with gentle Otis as a cellmate. | | | | similar altercations, with almost 700,000 cases of |
| These jails couldn't be farther from Mayberry if they | | | | alcohol-related assault reported each year. When |
| were located on the Moon. | | | | students combine their inexperience with alcohol with |
| In Los Angeles, a night of college carousing can have | | | | fluctuating hormones and overly emotional responses |
| serious implications. Jail is a scary place to be and can | | | | to events, the result is often an arrest on alcohol and |
| be dangerous. As the Los Angeles Times reported in | | | | or assault charges. |
| 2006: "With nearly 6,000 inmates - some of whom are | | | | Even so, most parents expect college students to |
| only awaiting trial - the Men's Central Jail is also one of | | | | experiment with alcohol. They're far more frightened |
| the nation's most violent facilities. Since 2003, nine | | | | when a child is arrested on drug charges. Parents are |
| inmates have been killed in the jail." | | | | shocked at the thought of a child using drugs and |
| Of course, not all arrests land a young person in a | | | | worried about the consequences. Beside the obvious |
| violent jail, but location is an important consideration. | | | | health concerns, the penalties for drug offenses can |
| Many small community jails don't keep detainees for a | | | | be much more severe than for alcohol-related |
| long period of time. If they aren't bailed out quickly, | | | | charges. |
| defendants are transferred to larger city or county | | | | Minor Offenses May Not Require Bail |
| facilities and have to go through the arrest and booking | | | | Depending on the offense, a bail bond may not be |
| process all over again. | | | | necessary. Students are often arrested, booked, and |
| That promised "night in jail" could literally become days | | | | then released with a citation to appear in court - called |
| in jail if the student isn't bailed out promptly. | | | | a "cite out." |
| Any way you cut it, dealing with the legal process itself | | | | Authorities are most likely to issue "cite-outs" when |
| is enough to "teach a lesson" to any student who will | | | | dealing with relatively minor offenses like public |
| learn it. The student suddenly is faced with the | | | | drunkenness or a basic DUI. "Basic" means that the |
| embarrassment of arrest and booking, loss of personal | | | | person doesn't have a history of DUI arrests, there |
| freedom, and the prospect of explaining himself to the | | | | was no accident involved, no minors in the vehicle, no |
| law and court system. College students make | | | | leaving the scene, resisting arrest, etc. In those cases, |
| mistakes and show bad judgment - parents might say | | | | the police will often keep the offenders for 8-10 hours |
| horribly bad judgment - but leaving them in jail longer | | | | until they're sober enough to leave with a promise to |
| isn't necessary to create an impact. | | | | appear in court. However, expect to post bail in cases |
| Bail Bond Agents Prefer to Work with Families | | | | where there's a felony or serious misdemeanor |
| Don't be surprised if your college student calls | | | | involved. |
| someone else first when they're arrested. Bail | | | | In a minor case, the bail bond agent may recommend |
| bondsmen get a lot of calls from friends or | | | | that you not post bail. If the student is likely to be |
| roommates, mainly because no kid wants to call his | | | | released quickly anyway, a bail bond is a waste of |
| parents from jail. Usually though, parents have to get | | | | money. That's a good reason to find a local and |
| involved if bail is required. Even though college friends | | | | reputable bail bondsman who understands the policies |
| want to help, most don't have the means to pay the | | | | and procedures of area jails. They can't give you legal |
| full bail amount and often don't qualify for a bail bond | | | | advice, but they can help you navigate through the jail |
| from a bail company. | | | | system. |
| A bail agent usually insists that a parent or family | | | | And remember, neither a bail bond nor a "cite-out" |
| member get involved to vouch for the student and | | | | means that someone is cleared of all charges. The |
| take responsibility for making sure he'll show up in | | | | legal process is just beginning. The student will probably |
| court. Generally, parents and grandparents know the | | | | still be required to appear in court, may need an |
| student best and know that the matter will be | | | | attorney, could still stand trial, and may have to pay a |
| addressed seriously. Distance isn't a problem: bail | | | | fine, perform community service, take classes, or even |
| agents work with clients around the world by phone, | | | | serve jail time. |
| email, and fax. Most take credit cards and can handle | | | | Parents worried about letting their kids off the hook by |
| wire transfers and other payment methods. When | | | | bailing them out of jail can relax. An encounter with the |
| necessary, a bail bondsman may even arrange a | | | | police, jail system, and court process teaches a hard |
| payment plan. | | | | lesson that most kids never, ever forget. |
| When you contact a bail agent, be prepared to | | | | |