While walking home late one night after a fight with your girlfriend, a gang of boys rushed past you and started pushing each other around. One jumped on a car and began to dent it. The alarm started blaring, and you continued your stroll past the vehicle when the homeowner tackled you and threw you to the ground. Demanding you stay down until the police arrive, you did as you were told under fear of your life. Here is what you can expect to happen next.
1. The Officer
When the officer arrives, you can expect to be arrested. Your Miranda rights will be read, you will be put into the police car, and transported to jail. The booking officer will take photographs, search you, and ask for your identifying information.
2. The Jail
Once you have been booked, you will be put into a cell with other arrested people. You may be moved into an interrogation room for questioning by an officer, but you will then go back into the cell. Depending on the time of your arrest, you may need to stay overnight in jail.
3. The Arrangement
When you meet with the judge for your arraignment, you will be asked how you plead. Some judges want to hear the reason for the charges, but others will push the defendants through the system because of the sheer numbers of charges they must deal with.
4. The Release
You may be released because of a lack of evidence, but you may also be held on the charges against you. If you are held, you will need to contact a Pennsylvania bail bonds company to arrange for your bonded release, which will cost you or your family an up-front charge of 10% of the total bail amount.
If there is one thing you can learn from this scenario, it would be that you should never walk alone after dark. Even if you have a fight with your girlfriend!