How to Bail a Friend Out of Jail at 2AM

We all know someone who has been arrested in the middle of the night. The stories all have different circumstances, but similar endings. Maybe they were your friend or maybe they were someone you hated. Perhaps they drove drunk or maybe they were arrested for being drunk in public. Regardless, you're almost always obligated to do something. One of my best friends was arrested last week for driving while intoxicated. When thrust into this situation, I had to help him out. A friend in need might be a pest, but they still need your help.

If your buddy has never been arrested before, he's probably pretty scared. It's imperative to find your friend before he does anything stupid. Confessions can be fatal once he gets into court. If you get a call from your friend or from the police, the first thing you need to find out is where your friend is in jail out. Find out what jail he's in and who is holding him. If it's possible to speak to him, let him know that he shouldn't speak to the police at all until his lawyer arrives. This will save some serious heartache when it comes time for a court date.

Be aware that your friend's call to you is probably being recorded. Because of this, everything he says about the incident will be used in court. Let him know that he shouldn't tell you anything specific about the incident. In the end, it's not important. You just need the basic details about where exactly he is and what you can do to get him out of jail.

You are going to want to find a lawyer, but many don't keep late-night hours. You will have to look through the phonebook for a lawyer that works late night and you might have to make a few different phone calls. Some lawyers will talk to you for free, but quite a few will charge you for that initial phone call.

While it might be of immediate importance to get your friend out of jail, the long term importance is to get a good lawyer. Pool as much money as you possibly can in order to get a good lawyer into the loop very quickly. Round up money from anyone who you can, as bond payments will be refunded when your friend makes his court date.

Helping your friend in this time of need can be a very rewarding experience. If you are good enough friends that your friend calls you in a time of enormous need, then it should be very obvious that your relationship is a valuable one. Take the time to help him out and he'll be there for you later on in life.