There’s always something going on in the Twin Cities, but the area becomes an even bigger hub for activity on the weekend. That’s especially true when the Cities host a major sporting event. We learned that in the days and weeks leading up to the Super Bowl, and we’ll have a similar scene this weekend as the Final Four descends on Minneapolis.
So while all this activity can be exciting and provide you with some unique entertainment options, it also means there’s more opportunities for trouble. If you end up in trouble on this weekend or any weekend, you’ll want to get out of jail and get back on with your life, but it’s not always that easy. Below, we share some tips for getting out of jail if you’re arrested on the weekend.
Getting Out Of Jail In Minnesota
Under Minnesota law, a person who is arrested without a warrant must see a judge within 36 hours. However, time doesn’t start until the day after your arrest, and Sundays don’t count towards time served. That means if you’re arrested Saturday evening, your 36-hour hold clock doesn’t start until Monday morning. Technically the police don’t have to get you in front of a judge until Tuesday at noon, and you can see how disruptive that can be to your family, work or school schedule.
So how can you speed up that timeline and get out of jail faster? The single most important thing you can do if you’re trying to get out of jail is to contact a criminal defense lawyer like Avery Appelman. We can come to the station and help secure your release (and save you money), or we can connect you with a bail bond agent so you can get out on your own. We know all the ins and outs of the holding laws in Minnesota, and even if you’re going to be formally charged, we can work with police or help speed up the process of getting you out of a holding cell so you can get back to your normal life.
One thing you’ll want to avoid doing when in custody is speaking to police about the incident. A lot of people think that if they are open and honest with police, they’ll let them go. Do not forget that police are trying to make a case against you, so anything you tell them can and will be used against you in the court of law. They are not your friends, and giving up information that showcases your guilt will only hurt you in the long run. You can provide basic details about yourself, but when they start asking about the incident, ask them to speak to a lawyer or for them to contact your lawyer.
Finally, and we can’t stress this point enough, make sure that you face the situation head on instead of trying to sweep it under the rug. If you don’t want your family to learn of the incident, you’re probably thinking that you can plead guilty and try to get back to normal life before anyone notices. This is what police want, and odds are it’s not going to keep your arrest a secret. The best thing you can do is to hire a lawyer and challenge the arrest. It’s much easier to tell your parents or your spouse that you made a mistake and are taking responsibility for your actions by challenging the case in court than to lie and try to cover up the incident while pleading guilty.
In most cases we can get the charges reduced or dismissed altogether, so don’t just plead guilty in hopes that it will get you out of jail faster. Think of the long term consequences, and at a minimum give us a call and let us run through your options. We’ve never once had a client tell us that they wished they would have plead guilty instead of calling us, but we’ve had countless tell us how thankful they are for our assistance with their case. If you want our help, call for a free case evaluation. (952) 224-2277.
