Facts about Bail Bonds in Delaware: Typical Criminal Arrest Timeline

What happens when you get arrested for a crime in The Diamond State? While the rules might differ in some aspects by state, there are a few similarities that could constitute a common pattern of the legal process after arrest—for one, as in many other states, you can post bail bonds in Delaware to keep you from spending time in jail before your arraignment. Here are some of the steps that you can expect to go through in the process:

If a law enforcer has probable cause that a crime has occurred, or if a warrant has been granted by a court with jurisdiction, he can arrest you. The arresting officer will then detain you, also called booking, where your personal effects are temporarily confiscated, your photograph and fingerprints taken, and you are then placed in a holding facility or a jail cell. Here you are taken to a judge to give your statement by video.

Setting Bail

Within hours after your arrest you are given the choice to post bail. The judge will set a bail amount that you can pay to get out of the detention facility. At this time you can contact a bondsman or bail bond company to assist you to make bail. Bail necessitates a ‘promise’ that you will appear on the arraignment date of your case. Here are some facts about this process, according to an article in Lawyers.com:

At your first court appearance, a judge may set a bail bond based on your criminal history, risk of flight and any danger you present to the community. In Delaware, you can be released on a signature bond which involves no money, or on a cash bond, unsecured bond or secured bond after signing a promise that you’ll return to court and follow any conditions the court imposes.

Arraignment

Arraignment occurs after your arrest, and does not take place on weekend or on other conditions set forth by law. U.S. federal law provides for two parts or stages of the arraignment process: the initial arraignment where the accused hears the charges filed against him, and the post-indictment, where he is allowed to make a plea.

Hearing and Trial

Next you’ll undergo a preliminary hearing, which will be set within 7 to 10 days of your arrest if you post bail. At this step, the judge determines whether there is indeed probable cause for a crime to have occurred—if the result is in the affirmative, your case will proceed to trial following the rules of criminal procedure in the State of Delaware.

If you want your bail process to go smoothly, you can always hire professionals like 1st Choice Bail Bonds who offer Delaware bail bonds services. These firms have agents called bondsmen who will serve surety and pledge money to ensure the court that you will, in fact, attend your arraignment and not become a fugitive.

(Source: How the Delaware Criminal Process Works, Lawyers.com)