After an individual is taken into custody in Oklahoma, he or she is typically booked in a local jail. During the booking process, authorities will record personal information about the person who is in custody as well as confiscate any personal belongings. Those belongings are returned to that person upon his or her release. After the booking process has been completed, an individual may be able to pay a fee to obtain his or her freedom.
In some cases, this fee may be paid immediately after a person has been processed. However, the decision to offer bail to a defendant may have to be made by a judge. A judge will review a person’s prior criminal record and other relevant factors when determining how much an individual will need to pay. It is possible for an individual to be released on his or her own recognizance.
This means that an individual is free to go upon making a written promise to appear for all future court dates. Those who are released in such a manner may be required to stay within the community or let the court know about their whereabouts on a regular basis. Individuals who cannot afford to pay their bail may be able to acquire a bail bond. Typically, a person will pay 10% of the full bail amount to obtain a bond.
Spending any length of time in jail might create hardships for parents, business owners or pet owners. An attorney may be able to convince a judge to either dismiss a DUI charge or allow a person to be quickly released on bail or his or her own recognizance. This may be done by pointing to the person’s lack of a criminal record.