How to Get Released from Jail As Quickly As Possible

You’re in jail. You’re alone. You’re worried. What do you do?  Oftentimes, the first thoughts of every arrestee are immediate release. The most common path to release is making bail.

Bail can take the form of cash, a bond, or property given to the court by the arrestee. This is an assurance to the court that the arrestee will return to the court when ordered to do so. The amount of your bail depends on the severity of the crime, as well as your risk of flight, and is subject to a judge’s discretion to take into account aggravating or mitigating factors.

While there are many release options, the most common are:

1) Cash or Check in Full Amount: This occurs when the arrestee is able to pay the entire bail in full.

2) Surety Bond/Bail Bond: This is used when the arrestee is unable to pay in bail in full. The process begins with contacting a bail bondsman. A bail bondsman then promises to pay the full value of the bond if the arrestee doesn’t appear for his court date. In return for these services, the bail bondsman will charge a premium, usually 10% of the bail.

3) Own Recognizance: Sometimes an arrestee may be released on his own recognizance, meaning, he is responsible for showing up for his court dates. These are usually given to those charged with minor, nonviolent crimes and where the defendant is not considered dangerous or a flight risk, meaning, one who has a high likelihood of fleeing.

4) Citation Release: These are usually given to less-serious offenders. An officer will give the arrestee a citation telling the arrestee that he must appear at the indicated court date. In this case, there is no booking procedure and depends on the arrestee’s voluntary return to court.

5) Property: A defendant may sometimes be able to use property as a bond if the court gets a lien on the property in the amount of the bail. Thus, if the arrestee doesn’t show up for his court date, the court forecloses on the property to recover the price of bail.

If you are unsure of how to get released from jail as quickly as possible, contact a local Maryland defense lawyer for advice today at (301) 854-9000.

5 Things to Look For Before Hiring a Criminal Defense Lawyer

The law is often a terrifying thing. No one is thrilled that they need to hire a lawyer. However, accidents happen and mistakes are made, and being prepared beforehand is the best possible way to reduce your anxiety in a time of crisis.

Finding the right lawyer to represent you, whether it be for DUI charges, assault, or a speeding ticket violation, is of the utmost importance. This individual is going to be the one responsible for your future, and therefore you want to make sure to choose wisely.

We have taken the time to answer five common questions.

1. What is your consultation process?

We offer a free consultation process. We are available via telephone, email, and livechat, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Additionally, we can talk with you in whatever language you prefer. We have staff members fluent in English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, and Japanese.

2. Do you have testimonials available? How do I know your reputation?

Our fundamental source of new clients is client referrals. We take pride in our results. We have a five star rating on Google Plus and Facebook. We have a level ten rating on AVVO.

 Many of our clients write statements about their experience with our firm and we urge you to read them. This information is the best way to get a sense of our work, commitment to our clients, and results.

3. What is your experience?                                 

You want a lawyer with experience in your PARTICULAR kind of case. Our litigation team lives, works, and studies, in Maryland, D.C. and Virginia. We are local lawyers with National recognition for our trial advocacy. Mr. Portner, our managing partner, has been recognized by the multi-million dollar advocacy forum for his success in the courtroom. He is also a distinguished Top One Hundred National Trial Lawyer.

4. How will they expect to bill you?

We are very open and forthcoming about our billing process. In terms of our criminal defense fee, we traditionally bill a flat fee. This depends on the charge, location, and amount of preparation necessary.

5. How will you communicate with us?

We are always available. You can reach out to us on Facebook, email, or phone. We take pride in our responsiveness and communication. We have an experienced litigation team that will keep you updated on every step of your case and what we are doing for you. 

If you have been charged with a crime in Maryland, call us today for a free consultation at (301) 854-9000.

Can an undocumented Immigrant file a claim for Personal Injuries?

 Undocumented immigrants can file a claim just like everyone else.

There is no rule that states illegal immigrant cannot receive compensation for their loss.

If you have suffered a motor vehicle accident or a work related injury don’t be afraid to seek the medical attention you need. You may be entitled to compensation.

Here at Portner & Shure we fight for each of our clients, regardless of their legal status. 

We will handle the insurance companies for you and make sure you get the compensation you deserve.

July Employee Spotlight

We are elated to welcome our new legal intern Rachel. She began her internship in the middle of May and is enthralled to be here.

Rachel graduated this past spring from East Carolina University with a major in criminal justice and a minor in security studies. 

She is still deciding on whether she wants to attend law school or not, but until then she has decided to stay with us.

During her internship she has been assisting our paralegal staff and helping with marketing needs. We are thrilled to have her part of our team. MO

RE

How Being the “Cool Parent” May Cost You A Lot Of Money

There are many parents who let their underage children, and friends, host parties, with alcohol present, and in Maryland these “cool” parents now run the risk of being sued. Maryland’s highest court ruled that parents are held liable if they know underage drinking is happening in their house and an underage drinker gets hurt or hurts someone else.

Usually the law mandates that only the individual themselves whether they are drunk or sober, are to be held responsible for their own conduct. But, an underage person consuming alcohol on an adult’s property with the adult’s complicity, is now being considered as an entirely different story.

This change was intended to be a deterrent from adults giving alcohol to minors.

The term “complicit” is a key aspect of this definition. This prohibits adults from “knowingly and willfully” letting drinking occur. In addition, parents are liable if they know underage drinking is happening in their house. Thus, parents whose children sneak into their home with alcohol would likely not be held responsible in court.

“Underage persons are not solely responsible for drinking alcohol on an adult’s property because they are not competent to handle the effects of this potentially dangerous substance.” Judge Sally D. Adkins wrote.

This is being hailed as a “groundbreaking” step, as activists believe that this ruling will help dissuade adults from providing alcohol to minors.

Many parents believe that they are keeping their children safer by letting them drink at home where adults can watch over them, but this is not always the case.

The Court of Appeals recognized what many have long known, “individuals that are underage lack the judgement and competence to decide whether to drink.” Parents who are home during the party can face a civil lawsuit or even criminal charges. On top of this, the parent may be ordered to pay the medical bills and other damages suffered by the teen and anyone else who may be injured in an accident. 

Impaired Driving to Spike This Fourth of July Weekend and MD State Police Are Ready

This year, Independence Day falls on the last day of a long weekend.  This has Maryland State Police predicting a sharp increase in the number of impaired drivers on the road this Fourth of July weekend, which is already one of the most traveled weekends of the summer.  The SPIDRE program, which stands for State Police Impaired Driving Effort, will be targeting drunk drivers at strategic locations based on prior DUI arrests and crash data.  Jim Ports, Deputy Secretary of the Maryland Department of Transportation indicated in a press release that "the SPIDRE team and other police agencies will be out in full force over the holiday weekend, which has the potential to be a deadly weekend."

The National Safety Council has estimated that at least 460 fatalities nationwide could occur as a result of impaired driving this Fourth of July Weekend.  This is the highest prediction in the last eight years.  Lt. Col. Anthony Satchell of the Maryland State Police Field Operations Division has remarked that "Drunk driving can be avoided by making alternate plans."  Be sure to plan ahead this holiday weekend, and if you're on the road, keep an eye out for drunk drivers.

Impaired Driving to Spike This Fourth of July Weekend and MD State Police Are Ready

This year, Independence Day falls on the last day of a long weekend.  This has Maryland State Police predicting a sharp increase in the number of impaired drivers on the road this Fourth of July weekend, which is already one of the most traveled weekends of the summer.  The SPIDRE program, which stands for State Police Impaired Driving Effort, will be targeting drunk drivers at strategic locations based on prior DUI arrests and crash data.  Jim Ports, Deputy Secretary of the Maryland Department of Transportation indicated in a press release that "the SPIDRE team and other police agencies will be out in full force over the holiday weekend, which has the potential to be a deadly weekend."

The National Safety Council has estimated that at least 460 fatalities nationwide could occur as a result of impaired driving this Fourth of July Weekend.  This is the highest prediction in the last eight years.  Lt. Col. Anthony Satchell of the Maryland State Police Field Operations Division has remarked that "Drunk driving can be avoided by making alternate plans."  Be sure to plan ahead this holiday weekend, and if you're on the road, keep an eye out for drunk drivers.

If you or someone you know has been arrested and charged with DUI or DWI, contact us today at 410-995-1515 to speak with a top rated DUI attorney for a free consultation.