
If you’ve been arrested,
you may be able to get out of jail while your case goes through the legal
system by posting bail. Yes, if you pay a certain amount of money to the court
or a bail bondsman, you’ll be released until your trial or other hearing date.
But what happens if you make mistakes when applying for bail? You might have to
stay in jail longer than you should or even miss your trial altogether because
the judge thinks you’re likely to skip out on it if let out of jail. We, the
expert criminal lawyers in
Sydney, have listed the most common mistakes to avoid when applying for bail.
Not Knowing All the
Details
One of the biggest
mistakes people make when applying for bail is not knowing all the details of
their case. This can lead to problems down the road, so you must take the time
to learn as much as you can about your charges and your options before making
any decisions.
Lying
Remember, it’s important
to be honest when applying for bail. Lying to the court, even if it’s a small
lie, can result in your bail being denied or revoked. In addition, if you’re
caught lying, you could also be charged with perjury, which is a serious crime.
What are the different
types of bail conditions?
Some bail conditions are
about things you must do or must not do. This type of bail condition is called
a ‘conduct requirement’. Some examples of conduct requirements are
■ report to police every
day
■ live at a specific
address
■ surrender your passport
■ not associate with
specific people (this means not go near or talk to those people)
■ not go within a certain
distance of a specific place (e.g. within 500 metres of the shopping centre)
■ obey a curfew.
Other types of bail
conditions are generally only imposed if conduct requirements are not enough. Seek
assistance from criminal
law firms to guide you through the bail process.
Using the Wrong Address
When Posting Bail
If you use the wrong
address when posting bail, your money could be sent to the wrong place, and you
might not get it back. Plus, the court might not be able to find you if you
move without updating your address. To avoid this mistake, double-check the
address on your bail paperwork before sending anything in.
Getting Arrested During
Bail Period
If you're arrested during your bail period, you may have to start the criminal law Sydney process all over again. Plus, you'll likely have to come up with more money for bail, and deal with any additional charges that may have been filed against you. To avoid this, don't break the law while on bail. Pay attention to those court-mandated restrictions too (e.g. staying away from children), so there's no way they can say you’ve violated them.