When first being released from jail after paying bond there is a sense of
things can go back to normal but in reality, while you can go back to your regular
life, there are some things that have to be taken care of while awaiting the arraignment.
From bond conditions to societal obligations, here are the things that should be
done to both stay out of jail and impress the judge during the upcoming
hearing.
Comply with all bond conditions
Perhaps the most important factor that has to be taken into account while
out on bail is bond conditions. Bond conditions are a specific set of rules
that the judge hands down to go along with setting bonds. These can be very
specific to a certain case but some of the most standard bond conditions
require abstaining from drugs and alcohol, staying in the state, and sometimes attending
court-mandated classes such as anger management. These conditions must be
followed in order to stay in compliance and if violated, it could lead to a bench
warrant which will take the defendant right back to jail with a much smaller
chance of being released again. Bond conditions are essentially like probation
but before sentencing instead of after.
Get or keep a job
Another extremely common bond condition that judges will impose is employment.
If you are employed currently then it is best to remain there until after the
case concludes and if you are currently unemployed then the judge will insist
that you look for employment. There are a couple of reasons for this. The first
is that it is far less likely for a defendant to flee if they have a place to report
to consistently, but also it is a way to show the judge that you are taking
part in society in a way that is productive and meaningful. The reason why it
is best to keep a job during the duration of a trial is that the judge will view
it as an act of responsibility. While it is not necessarily a condition to stay
with the job you currently have, it can come across as less serious when the
judge sees a defendant who has been job-hopping.
Take on some volunteering
There is no better way to show that you want to help make the world better
and improve your community than to volunteer your time and skills. Volunteering
will absolutely impress the judge which may in turn lead to more lenient
sentencing but it can also be an invaluable way to find purpose, gain
networking connections and obtain experience in fields that you may be
interested in. Volunteering now can also come in handy if community service is
part of a sentence because the time could potentially be credited or at the
very least could give you an in when having to find an organization to work
with.
Stay close to friends and family
One other thing that a judge will take into account is if the defendant has
a support system around them. It is important to maintain relationships not
only because it can be a stressful and difficult time and support always helps
but also because like with employment, someone is less likely to try and run
when they have roots tied to the community.
To conclude, this time before the case officially
begins is an excellent chance to do some actions that show the judge that you
are ready and willing to be a valuable member of society.
When first being released from jail after paying bond there is a sense of
things can go back to normal but in reality, while you can go back to your regular
life, there are some things that have to be taken care of while awaiting the arraignment.
From bond conditions to societal obligations, here are the things that should be
done to both stay out of jail and impress the judge during the upcoming
hearing.