Someone you care about has been arrested. You’re worried. You’re not sure what happens next, and people keep mentioning a “bond hearing.”
Here’s what that means, and why it matters more than you might think.
What Is a Bond Hearing?
In Mississippi, after someone is arrested, they’re usually brought before a judge for what’s called a bond hearing (also called an initial appearance). The judge decides whether they can be released from jail while the case moves forward, and under what conditions.
Sometimes that means paying money to get out. Sometimes it means staying in jail. The judge may also order things like house arrest or ankle monitors. In other words: this hearing sets the tone for everything that comes next.
Why It Matters to Act Fast
If the judge doesn’t get the full picture, they may assume your loved one is a flight risk or a danger to the community, even if that couldn’t be further from the truth. The result? A bond they can’t afford, or maybe even no bond at all.
That’s why it’s so important to have a lawyer at the bond hearing who can explain things clearly:
That your loved one has a job and needs to get back to it
That they’re not a risk to anyone
That they have strong family and community support
That they’ve never been in serious trouble before
This kind of information can mean the difference between going home and sitting in jail for weeks, or sometimes months.
What You Can Do Right Now
If someone you love is in jail in Mississippi and hasn’t had their bond hearing yet, now is the time to act. We can often step in quickly and start preparing for that hearing so their side of the story is told—and so they’re not stuck behind bars while their life unravels.
Call Eichelberger Law Firm today at 601-202-9981. We’ll fight to get your loved one home while we work on the rest of their case.