The criminal justice system was created to protect everyone. No one wants to be the victim of a crime, no one wants to be wrongly accused of committing a crime, and no one wants to be launched into a legal system that they may not completely understand. Here is an overview of the process that is followed when someone is arrested.
Scene of the Crime
When a crime happens, police are called to the scene. Statements from the victim and witnesses are recorded. If warranted, the accused person is arrested and taken to the police station where a prosecutor decides whether to pursue criminal charges.
Arrest and Booking
Anyone who is arrested must be informed that they have the right to a lawyer and that they have the right to remain silent and to not incriminate themselves. Fingerprinting and checking records before the arraignment or official charges are made may take no more than 48 hours to complete. The accused person might be given the option to post bail as a guarantee that he or she will return on the assigned court date. Bail can be in the form of cash or Wayne County bail bonds.
Posting Bail
Bail is usually set high enough to make it unlikely that the accused would walk away, forfeit the money, and fail to return on the designated date. Bail must also be paid in cash, often making it impossible for the accused person to post bail themselves. If the defendant is able to pay the full amount of bail in cash, he or she will be allowed to leave and return on the court date.
Bail is returned when the case is closed, but fines can be subtracted from the total so the defendant might not receive the full amount that was paid. If a defendant does not have the necessary cash, he or she can make arrangements to have a bail bondsperson pay the bail on the promise that the defendant will be in court to stand trial.