“Plotkin, part of the second generation of a family-run bond agency, has written a clear and informative guide that most readers will hope they never need to consult.” —Kirkus Reviews

Readers’ Favorite Book Awards Silver Medal Winner 2022

Finalist 2021 Best Book Awards, American Book Fest

Independent Publisher Book Awards (IPPY) Bronze Medal Winner 2021

When you or someone you care about is arrested, securing a safe and quick release becomes your top priority. In this process, you may be bombarded with a lot of information, some of which may be incomplete, inaccurate, or misleading. Making hasty decisions based on this information can have serious long-term consequences for you or your loved ones.

Get Bail, Leave Jail is a comprehensive guide that helps Americans navigate the legal system and the process of bail bonds. The book draws from the authors' collective experience of more than 60 years in the bail bond industry. During this time, they have worked with thousands of people in need, criminal defense lawyers, law enforcement officials, and court officials, to gain in-depth knowledge of the criminal justice system.

The book is divided into various sections, each of which provides detailed advice on specific topics. These include:

Five types of bail agencies and how to check their reputation and qualifications

Eleven crucial questions to ask a bail bondsman or bail agent before hiring them

Five ways to get out of jail and tips to speed up the release process

Eight common reasons why getting out of jail may be delayed and how to avoid them

The most common bail bond forms and contracts you'll encounter

A comprehensive list of 21 items you can use as bail collateral to secure your bond money

Navigating criminal court procedures and ensuring the exoneration of your bail bond

Essential tips on how to prepare your defense in court, reduce your sentencing, and even stay out of prisonEvery arrest is difficult, no matter the nature of the charge - be it DUI, traffic ticket, shoplifting, domestic violence, drug possession, white-collar crime, or a more serious charge. However, defendants who are able to secure bail are in a better position because they have more time, more options, and can seek better help. Get Bail, Leave Jail provides you with the vital information you need to make informed decisions and prepare for the worst. This book is a must-read for anyone who wants to be prepared in case they or a loved one are ever faced with an arrest and incarceration.

Below are a list of common bail bonds terms and explanations as well as some of the most common Bail charges that are addressed in the book:

Affidavit, Allegation, Appeal, Arraignment, Arrest, Assets, Attorney, Bail, Bail bond, Bail schedule, Bench trial, Bail agent or guarantor, Bounty hunter, a.k.a. skip tracer, Capital offense, Collateral, Commissioner, Continuance, Conviction, Defendant, Community service, Concurrent sentence, Consecutive sentence, Counsel, Court, Damages, Determinate sentencing, Discovery, District Attorney, Docket call, Due process, Evidence, Exoneration, Extradition, Failure to appear, Felony, Forfeiture, Grand jury, Habeas corpus, Hearing, House arrest or home confinement, Indemnitor, Indictment, Injunction, Judge, Judgment, Jurisdiction, Jury, Lien, Litigation, Misdemeanor, Mistrial, Motions, No contest or nolo contendere, Oath, Own recognizance (OR), Parole, Perjury, Plea, Plea bargain, Posting fee, Preliminary hearing, Premium, Pretrial, Probable cause, Probation, Prosecutor, Public defender, Restitution, Schedules, Sentence, Stay, Summary judgment, Testimony, Time served, Trial, Verdict, Warrant, Witness, Wobbler,

S.J. Plotkin