What You Need to do to Prepare Yourself for Court

Posted on April 21, 2022 by karen

For the most part, your lawyer will take care of the majority of court preparation over the days and weeks leading up to your court date. However, on the actual day itself, you will need to do a few extra things to prepare and present yourself properly. Your lawyer will also give you some tips of what to do and what not to do for your court appearance:

Dress as if you are going to a business meeting or interview and do not overdo the accessories.
Remove sunglasses and hats in court.
Do not chew gum.
Arrive 10-15 minutes before your scheduled court time and try and leave young children at home.
Use the restroom before going into the courtroom, and turn off your cell phone.
Sit and stand straight.
Speak clearly and loud enough for the room to hear and only when you are spoken to, and only what you are asked of.
Do not grow angry and argumentative.
Refer to the judge as Your Honor.

How you present and conduct yourself in court will speak to the judge and the jury in addition to the case, facts, and evidence itself. For example, if you get angry, verbal, and disruptive in court, the judge may pause the trial for the day and when you come back, they will be stricter with you. In essence, they are watching you for your behavior.

Listen to and trust your lawyer. If you are out on bail, do not forget to stay on track with bail bond payments. Memphis Bail Bonds will help make sure of this as well.

What if I Miss Court

Did you know that a person who is out on bail is more likely to show up for their court dates? One of the biggest reasons this is true is that their current release could not have happened if it were not for the bail bond co-signer and/ or anyone who pledged collateral.

If the defendant fails to appear in court, the co-signer feels the consequences and the collateral is taken away. So loved ones are betting on the defendant to show up in court; the defendant does not want to let their loved ones down. They want to prove to them, and to everyone, that they can handle this situation maturely and responsibly. This is why they are more likely to show up for court.

We can be reached at (615)544-0000 or online should you have any questions or concerns.

Why Was A Loved One Arrested?

Posted on November 18, 2020 by spiralmode

You never know what a friend or family member could get arrested for. After all, you never really expected a loved one to get arrested at all. Once you learn of a loved one’s arrest, you may not actually know why he or she was arrested. Trying to find that information on your own can be difficult, especially when your loved one can only talk to you for so long.

Luckily, there are professionals who can help you. All you have to do is contact Memphis Bail Bonds. For over 30 years, we have helped Tennesseans deal with bail and rescue their loved ones from jail. We can do the same for you. We provide all kinds of services for our clients, including:

24/7 Bail bond service
20% Discount
Phone approvals
0% Interest payment plans
No hidden fees
No collateral with the working signer
Se Habla Español

Once we locate your loved one in the county jail system, which we can do with just their name, birthday, and county of arrest, we can answer all of your questions. We can even tell you why your loved one was arrested in the first place. Once you are satisfied and all of your questions have been answered, then we can begin the bail bond process.

Our expert bail agents have plenty of experience with bail, and so they can guide you through the whole process. With our bail agents helping you, your loved one can be out of jail in as little as 2 hours in some counties. Regardless of how long it takes, our agents will work nonstop to get your loved one out of jail.

No matter how surprising the arrest of a loved one can be for you, there is no reason to panic. Memphis Bail Bonds has plenty of experience helping people rescue their loved ones from jail. You can count on us to be there for you and to answer any questions that you might have about your loved one’s arrest.

Want to talk to a bail agent for free? Just call (615) 544-0000 or click Chat With Us now.

Statutory Rape Laws and Charges

Posted on October 23, 2020 by spiralmode

What is Statutory Rape?

Strictly speaking, statutory rape has nothing to do about sexual consent. In statutory rape cases, both parties are usually willing. These cases aren’t about the willingness of both partners but whether they’re able to cope with the emotional and physical ramifications that go hand in hand with a sexual relationship.

According to the law, statutory rape takes place when someone has sex with a minor, who is otherwise referred to as a person who hasn’t reached the age of consent.

Is it Possible for a Minor to be Charged with Statutory Rape?

The question of whether it’s possible for two minors to be accused of statutory rape doesn’t have a clear legal answer.

According to Tennessee Penal Code Section 261.5, statutory rape takes place whenever someone has sex with someone who hasn’t reached their eighteenth birthday. According to that, if a sixteen-year-old couple decides to have sex, both of them can be charged with statutory rape.

The problem is that for the charges to stick, the court has to determine which member of the couple is the victim and which is the aggressor, something that’s nearly impossible to do when both are minors. Due to the legal complexities of the situation, the charges are usually dropped and the court lets the parents decide how to handle the matter.

Penalties for Statutory Rape in Tennessee

Statutory rape charges in Tennessee are a serious matter. Statutory rape is one of the state’s many famous wobbler offenses. No two cases are handled the same way, which can make it difficult to guess what the final results will be. The most extreme cases can result in a sentence that includes 3 years in jail as well as a $10,000 fine.

Sometimes the court requires that the defendant register as a sex offender, but there are also situations where that hasn’t happened. It largely depends on the age of the two people involved in the case as well as the type of relationship they’re engaged in.

The best way to make sure you never have to unravel the complexities of statutory rape is by making sure your sexual partner is always over 18 years old.

The Long-Lasting Consequences of Drunk Driving in Tennessee

Posted on October 19, 2020 by spiralmode

Like all other states, Tennessee has taken a hard stance on drunk driving. It isn’t tolerated. If you’re caught behind the wheel after having just a little too much to drink, you’ll face steep consequences that will have a major impact on the overall quality of your life.

Tennessee’s Legal Limit

Tennessee has different legal limits for different types of drivers. For the average, adult driver in Tennessee, anything over a blood alcohol count (BAC) of 0.08% is considered too high to legally drive. Drivers who haven’t reached their 21st birthday, anything over 0.05% is considered a DUI. Commercial drivers as well as drivers who are involved with a ride-share program aren’t allowed to get behind the wheel if their BAC is above 0.04%

If you are pulled over and the officer believes you’ve been drinking, they’ll likely administer a breath test that measures your BAC. If the BAC is considered close, but not quite at the legal limit, it’s likely you’ll still be arrested. The reason for this is because it can take a little time for the true BAC to be accurate. You’ll receive a second test at the jail. By this point, the BAC level will be accurate. If it’s above the legal limit, the officer will go through with the arrest. Both of the BAC tests are admissible in court. In many cases, the first test is a breath test and the second test is taken via a blood draw.

Penalties of Driving Drunk in Tennessee

Tennessee lawmakers aren’t playing around when it comes to drunk drivers. The penalties are steep and were designed to scare people into only getting behind the wheel while they’re sober. The penalties become more severe each time you’re charged with a DUI.

First Offense

The first time you’re caught driving while under the influence, the maximum amount of time you can spend in county jail is six months. You’ll also be charged fines that will range from $390-$1,000. Your license will be suspended and you won’t be able to drive for up to six months. Your ignition can be locked for 6 months to one full year, and you’ll only be allowed to drive on a restricted license during that time.

Second Offense

The second DUI charge means a minimum of 92 hours and a maximum of 1 full year in a county jail. The court can charge you fines that range from $390-$1,000. You can lose your license for a full two years, making it difficult to work, especially if you live in a rural area. After you get a restricted license, the court can limit your driving with an ignition lock that will remain on your vehicle for up to one year.

Third Offense

The third time you’re found guilty of DUI charges, you’ll be sentenced to as little as 120 days or as long as one year in jail. You’ll get charged at least $1,800 in fines. You’ll also lose your license for 3 years and potentially have an ignition lock installed on your vehicle for an additional 2 years.

Tennessee lawmakers have arranged things so that each DUI conviction remains on your record for a full 10 years.

In addition to actual DUI penalties, if you were in an accident while driving drunk, you will also face any charges that were incurred during the accident. This can include minor traffic offenses or vehicular manslaughter.

Medications Can Mess up Your Life

There are several medications that can play havoc on your body when you mix them with alcohol. The problem with many medications, even some over-the-counter allergy medications is that they alter the way your body absorbs alcohol. This means that if you go to the bar and have your normal amount of alcohol, and the amount that in most cases allows you to legally drive home, the medication could have created a significantly higher blood alcohol level and you’ll be arrested for DUI. Several people have had their lives destroyed because they didn’t realize how badly the medication and alcohol would react.

If you’re on medication, it’s in your best interest to not get behind the wheel if you have accidentally mixed the alcohol and the medication. Call a friend, get a room, hire a taxi. Do anything other than getting in your car.