Landing in jail after an arrest is never a pleasant and fun experience, yet there is not a lot that you can do after the fact. Once you are in jail, though, there are steps you can take to begin working on the process of getting out of jail and working through the charges that the court has against you. If you are not sure where to start after your arrest, here are some tips to help you know what steps you should take.

Stay calm and find out the details

Getting arrested is likely to make you feel very anxious, nervous, depressed, or even angry, but it is important to try to stay calm during this. Staying calm can help you handle the situation properly, and it will also help you avoid causing further problems with your situation. As you remain calm, you can ask the officer the details about your arrest, which may include the reasons for it, the crimes you are being charged with, and the amount the bail is set at. You will need to know this information in order to get out of jail.

Make a phone call to your closest friend or relative

Next, you should make a phone call to your closest friend or relative to let them know what happened. Talking to someone you trust can also help you feel better about the situation, and it might help you create a plan to get out of jail faster.

Create a plan to pay the bail

There are several ways to get out of jail, and the simplest option is to pay the cash bail yourself. Unfortunately, if you do not have enough cash to do this, you might not be able to. You could always ask if the jail accepts credit card payments, though, as this might also be an option for you. If you cannot pay the bail, consider using a bail bond. This is a great way to get out of jail without paying a lot of cash up front, and you can contact a bail bondsman yourself from jail or have a friend do this for you.

Hire a lawyer

Next, you should plan to hire a criminal lawyer to represent you in your case, as having a lawyer will typically help you receive the best results from a criminal case.

These are the four main steps you should take after getting arrested. If you need legal help at this time, contact a criminal lawyer. If you need help posting your bail, contact a bail bondsman.