What it’s Like to Get Arrested
Turn around and put your hands behind you back! An all too familiar sound for some people, but for others it really doesn’t happen that often if ever. Every day all across the U.S. thousands of people are getting arrested so it’s just a matter of time before it’s your turn.
Lights flash in your rear view mirror
For those of you that have never been arrested before the process starts most of the time with traffic stop. An officer comes to your window and asks for your license and registration, he may or may not tell you what you have been pulled over for just yet. He walks back to his Tahoe and runs your name and driver’s license number through NCIC and your states state wide registry. The officer walks back you and says,”Can you step out of the vehicle please,” You comply and ask why, the officer says ‘that you have an outstanding traffic warrant with UNK, County. Turn around and put your hands behind you back!’
In Custody
You will be put in the back of the officers Tahoe and be taken to a jail facility. At the jail before you go inside they will ask you if you have and alcohol, drugs, and/or weapons. The reason they ask is because in most states it’s a third degree felony to take it into the jail. Once you are in the jail facility you will be pat searched, and then stuck into a room where you are then out of view of everyone except the jailer/booking officer and you will have to strip butt naked and take a shower. (Depending on your custody level you will either do a full search or a minimum search, full searches are administered if you have ever had arrests for a violent crime or a drug related crime.) Once you’re done showering and you’re dressed out, you will answer a series of questions and sign a few pieces of paper. After the booking officer is done with the questionnaires you will be put into a Holding tank or Detox tank. Once the jailer/booking officer has all your information in the system you will then have to get your fingerprints and photographs taken. They will then tell you what kind of warrant you have and whether you have a bond, a fine, or you will have to see the judge to get one or the other. After Magistration you will either bond out, pay the fine, or the one that no one wants, to stay in jail.
Jail
In jail you will have access to a phone, TV, commissary, three meals a day, shower, laundry, and vary inexpensive medical. Jail is full of all different sorts of inmates, the ones that follow the rules, ones that break the rules, and ones that try and walk around the rules. The inmates that fallow the rules usually end up in a trusty tank where they have a little more freedom then the other inmates. They will have to work but that’s a small price to pay for a little more freedom. The inmates that break the rules are usually the people that end up in administrative separation. One inmate per sep tank, no TV, no visitation, no commissary, no phone, all you have is mail and books. The inmates that try and go around the rules are the ones that you need to watch for; they will be the ones gambling in the corner trying not to get caught.
Court
If you can’t afford an attorney then you will need to fill out an attorney request form that the jail will provide for you. If you are in jail when your court date comes you will be taken to court by the jail staff. Depending on your charge you may not get to court fast. If you bonded out, the court will mail you your court docket information. Depending on your charge you can do anywhere from community service, to county or even prison time.
Conclusion
No matter what your situation is, if you’re getting arrested for public intoxication or you’re getting arrested for robbery, you need to know how to compose yourself in the situation, keep calm and do what the police officer, jailer, and/or corrections officer tells you to do, and just remember if you do the crime, you do the time.