7 Things To Do When Someone You Love Is Arrested

No one ever expects to be arrested or charged with a crime, but approximately 50,000 arrests are made in Colorado every year. All it takes is one person’s conversation with law enforcement, whether or not they intend to report a crime.

Law enforcement do not offer mediation services and aren’t equipped to help ‘calm down’ a situation. They are trained to investigate potential crimes, gather evidence, and make arrests. This often catches people by surprise. We’ve handled many cases where people called the police for help or assistance, only to find themselves or someone they care about in handcuffs.

Other times, your loved one may be guilty of the charges. We can still help make sure that the rest of the process is fair, and that the full circumstances are communicated to the court.

During and After the Arrest:

Whether you think your loved one is innocent or guilty, here are the steps you should take that will make the process flow more smoothly:

1. Ask the arresting officer for the case number (they will usually write it on the back of their business card for you).
2. Write down your phone number and give it to your loved one on a piece of paper so they can call you from the station or jail even if they don’t have their phone.
3. Confirm where your loved one is being taken and confirm whether they can be picked up after booking or whether they have to stay in jail until their first court appearance
4. If they have to see a judge before they can be released, call us right away – we can often appear at the first bond hearing and argue for a personal recognizance bond (or a low cash bond).
5. If bond allows cash, surety or property: try to post a cash bond. As long as the arrestee goes to all their court appearances, you’ll get a cash bond refunded at the end of the case. A surety bond is cheaper, but you never get that money back, even if the case is dismissed.
6. Don’t talk to the police about the alleged crime or give them any evidence. Collect as much contact information as possible from any potential witnesses. Take pictures, save screenshots and preserve as much evidence as possible. However, don’t try to convince anyone to change their statement or drop the charges.
7. Be patient. It only takes a few minutes to start a criminal case, but it takes months to get them resolved. The process is often slow and frustrating. Our goal is to help you and your loved ones reach a resolution that minimizes the damage and gets you back on a positive track.

The sooner you call us, the more helpful we can be.