It’s 3 in the morning, you’re sound asleep when the phone rings. You peep at your phone and don’t recognize the number so you slam it down and roll over. It rings again, same number, this time you answer angrily to see what the hell is going on that’s so important at this hour. It’s a recorded voice informing you the origination of your call is “Travis County Jail” and the inmate on the phone is your loved one or dear friend and your number is the only one they had memorized.
Now, you’re wide awake, and concerned. You’re tasked with getting this loved one out of jail, but you know nothing of this process, other than maybe a bail bondsman, or a lawyer can help. You grab your cell phone and search for ideas, hopefully, this blog appears and you take a chance and click on it.
DO NOT call a bondsman first. In Travis County, it’s very common for lawyers to facilitate jail releases. Lawyers are potentially, the quickest way to obtain a bond. I can go see your loved one immediately, have them fill out a Personal Bond form, walk the paperwork over to Pretrial Services and get a recommendation then head down for a judge’s signature. I can waive magistration in most cases so your loved one doesn’t have to wait to see a judge. Only a lawyer can waive magistration!
When you hire a bondsman, you’re typically paying a premium of 10% of the bond amount, along with collateral and co-signers, depending on the charge and the amount of the bond and other various factors. Once that money is paid, it is gone forever. You don’t get it back. When you hire me for a jail release, I will quote you a flat fee up front, and will accept payment over the phone. Further, I will apply any money you pay for the jail release to your subsequent legal fees on the new charge. If I am unable to obtain the jail release for you, then I will let you know that information up front and give you direction from there.
Whether it’s the first time, or the next time, you receive that 3am phone call from the county jail, contact me first at 512-926-8850, and let me put my experience to work for you.