WEBVTT

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In the United States,

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start with the arresting agency

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and official jail information.

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Confirm where your family

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member is,

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their next court date, and how

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to reach a defense lawyer.

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Bail and release rules depend

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on the court and the case.

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Collect the person’s full name,

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date of birth, and the place

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and approximate time of arrest.

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Use an official agency website

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or independently verified

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public number.

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Ask the arresting agency or

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local jail about custody and

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any transfer.

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A new booking may take time to

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appear online.

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A matching name alone is not

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enough, and a missing result

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does not prove the person has

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been released.

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Ask staff when and how to check

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again.

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Federal custody does not always

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mean a federal prison building.

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In federal criminal cases,

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people awaiting trial may be

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held in local or contracted

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facilities.

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The Bureau of Prisons locator

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covers its own system;

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a result saying someone is not

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in its custody does not rule

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out detention elsewhere.

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Immigration detention has a

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separate locator and process.

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Juvenile cases also have

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different procedures and

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privacy rules.

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This guide focuses on adult

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criminal arrests.

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Ask for the booking number,

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listed charges, responsible

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court, case number if assigned,

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and next appearance.

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Then confirm available court

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information with the court or

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defense lawyer.

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A booking entry is not the same

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as a filed complaint or

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indictment, and an accusation

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is not a conviction.

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In federal court, an initial

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appearance addresses charges,

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counsel and custody;

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arraignment involves a plea.

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Names and schedules vary

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elsewhere.

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Do not assume a relative can

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enter a plea or speak for the

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defendant.

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Ask how your family member can

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request appointed counsel if

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they cannot afford a lawyer.

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The court decides eligibility

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and appointment;

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a family phone call does not

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itself appoint a public

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defender.

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Federal guidance calls for

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eligible defendants to receive

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counsel as soon as feasible at

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the relevant stage.

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Los Angeles County, for

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example, says people can ask

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its public defender for advice

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before their first appearance.

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For private counsel, confirm

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the relevant court,

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availability, conflicts, fees

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and what work is included.

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Offer support, but keep

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evidence, witnesses and defense

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strategy off ordinary jail

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calls and messages.

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The Bureau of Prisons monitors

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ordinary calls and electronic

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messages, and local facilities

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may do the same.

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San Diego expressly warns that

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its email system is not for

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confidential legal

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communication.

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Do not assume adding a lawyer

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to a family call makes it

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private.

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Ask counsel and the facility

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about the proper confidential

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channel.

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Preserve original documents and

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messages;

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do not edit, delete or hide

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potential evidence.

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Do not assume every arrest can

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be resolved by paying a fixed

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amount.

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Depending on the law, release

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may involve a promise to

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return, conditions, a bond, or

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a decision to remain in

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custody.

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California’s court guide

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describes several of these

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alternatives.

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Federal law also provides

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release and detention options,

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with routes to ask for changes

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to specified orders.

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Have counsel assess the actual

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order and available review

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promptly.

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Posting money on one case may

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not resolve a separate hold or

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order.

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Ask the defense team what

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practical information would

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help:

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a reliable address, employment,

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family care responsibilities,

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transport, treatment needs and

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existing court orders may be

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relevant.

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Be accurate;

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do not promise housing or

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supervision you cannot provide.

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Report urgent medical or mental

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health concerns directly to the

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detention facility and notify

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counsel.

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For a life-threatening

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emergency, contact emergency

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services where the person is

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located as well as the

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facility.

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Do not wait for an ordinary

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website message to be read.

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Frightened families are a

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target for scams.

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A caller may pretend to be a

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relative, lawyer or officer and

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demand urgent money while

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insisting on secrecy.

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Even a familiar voice can be

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imitated.

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Independently call the agency

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or lawyer using a number you

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found yourself, and check with

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a trusted family contact.

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Do not send gift cards,

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cryptocurrency or an urgent

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transfer because an incoming

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caller demands it.

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Verify the real custody

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situation and any legitimate

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payment instructions first.

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Read the answer and sources at

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Legal Hotline dot com, with a

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hyphen between Legal and

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Hotline.

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Our United States number is on

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screen for free general legal

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information.

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Legal Hotline is an information

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service, not a law firm, jail

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locator or emergency responder.

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Lawyer matching is separate.