When someone you know has been arrested, you’re probably wondering how long it takes for bail to be set. None of us want to think about our loved ones sitting in jail for a minute longer than they have to be—most clients want to know when they’ll be able to bail out their friend or family member.

While the timeline of an arrest can vary, you should have a bail amount after 48 hours. At that point, you can either post bail yourself or contact a bail bonds company to help you get your loved one out of jail.

Here’s a quick overview of the bail bonds process and arrest timeline.

The arrest and booking

After a person is arrested, they’re usually booked into the county jail to await a hearing in front of a judge. If this occurs on the weekend, when court is not typically in session, the earliest a defendant can see a judge is on Monday.

How bail is set

Bail is set according to a “schedule” posted by each county. This depends on the severity of the crime as well as a number of other factors, such as whether the defendant is a flight risk, whether they have long-standing ties to the community, their prior arrest and conviction history and more. Judges have some discretion in increasing or lowering the bail amount, depending on these contributing factors.

If the judge believes the defendant will show up to their court dates of their own volition, they might release the person on their own recognizance, without needing to post bail.

How to post bail

Once the bail amount is set, you can begin the process of bailing your loved one out of jail. Depending on the bail amount, you might have that amount readily available. However, in many cases, it’s better to work with a bail bonds agent. You pay an upfront fee (usually 10 percent of the total bail amount), which is non-refundable, even if the defendant makes all of their court dates. You will be asked to provide collateral for the rest of the amount. If the defendant fails to make their court dates, or is arrested while out on bail, you will forfeit that collateral and they will go back to jail.

It is also possible to post bail with cash, by going to the county courthouse. They may put a lien on your home to guarantee payment.

What happens next

After your loved one is released from jail, they will be provided with a list of instructions to follow. This includes showing up to all court dates and avoiding all illegal behavior. You may wish to keep the defendant nearby so you can keep an eye on them—after all, it’s your collateral at stake.

Now that you know the basic timeline of an arrest and how long it takes for bail to be set, call Brazoria County Bail Bonds today. We can help you get your loved one out of jail as soon as possible.