Bremerton Criminal Law Blog

Following someone's arrest, it is not uncommon for that person to spend some time in jail before making a first appearance before a judge. This hearing, called an arraignment, is when the accused hears the charges prosecutors are filing and has the chance to enter a plea. The judge may then set bail.

Bail is money or valuables those facing criminal charges pay to the court as an assurance that they will return for trial. If they show up, they get their money back. If they do not, they lose their money and may face additional charges. However, you may be among the many who feel that the cash bail system in Washington is unfair. In some areas of the state, court systems are trying other methods.

Perhaps you were driving to your destination minding your own business when the patrol car behind you turned on its lights and sirens warning you to pull over. You knew that you often drive mindlessly since you know the roads well, so you aren't sure what you did. Maybe you were speeding or forgot to signal as you changed lanes.

In any case, your thoughts then turned to the couple of drinks you had with friends before heading home. You never thought you weren't capable of driving safely, but you know that may not matter if the officer smells alcohol on your breath.

Your relationship with your spouse or partner has likely been tense for a while. Maybe you are even discussing divorce or accusations of infidelity have come up in one of your many arguments. Perhaps it was during one of those arguments that things got particularly heated. A neighbor called police, or your spouse, in a moment of vengeance, dialed 911 and reported that you were being abusive.

This one phone call set in motion a process that you may feel was quickly out of your control. When police arrived, you may have found yourself in handcuffs before you could get in a word of explanation. Your spouse may have even pleaded with the officers that it was a misunderstanding, but before you knew it, you were at a police station where an officer took your photo and fingerprints.

When you take a prescription medication, you may feel like you are following doctor's orders and sticking to a necessary treatment plan for your ailment. You may think only of the positive outcomes your medication will have and not negative consequences. In fact, you may not even consider the possibility that criminal charges could result from simply taking your medicine.

You may not believe you have done anything against the law because your doctor provided you with a valid prescription and instructions, which you followed exactly. However, if your medication causes side effects, even ones you consider minor, you could wind up charged with DUI if those side effects affect your driving ability.