How do I find out if someone was arrested?

Call the county jail directly. DeKalb County: (256) 845-3801. Cherokee County: (256) 927-3365. You can also check online inmate rosters on the sheriff's office websites.

Can I bail someone out before they're booked?

No. Booking must be completed before bail can be posted. The jail won't have the necessary paperwork until booking is done.

What if they have warrants in another county?

They may be held on a 'detainer' even after local bail is posted. The other jurisdiction must resolve their warrant before release. This can complicate and delay things significantly.

Can I get updates on their status?

The jail may provide limited information. Your bondsman can often get status updates more easily since they work with the jail regularly.

What if bail is set really high?

An attorney can file a motion for bail reduction. This requires a hearing where they argue the bail is excessive. Judges sometimes lower bail if circumstances warrant.

CONNIE'S BAIL BONDING

What Happens After an Arrest in Alabama

When someone you care about is arrested, understanding what happens after arrest alabama helps you take the right steps to get them released as quickly as possible. Here's exactly what happens from the moment of arrest through release.

Written by Toni•APBB License #S0345 ✓

7 min read

Updated November 2025

Quick Answer

What happens after someone is arrested in Alabama?

After arrest, they're transported to jail for booking (1-3 hours): photograph, fingerprints, background check, property collected. Bail is set either immediately via schedule or by judge within 24-72 hours. Once bail is posted through a bondsman (10% + fees), release processing takes 2-10 hours depending on the facility.

The Arrest

An arrest occurs when law enforcement takes someone into custody based on:

•Witnessing a crime
•A warrant issued by a judge
•Probable cause to believe a crime was committed

At the scene:

The person is handcuffed and informed of the charges
Miranda rights are read ("You have the right to remain silent...")
They're transported to the county jail for booking

Important:

The arrested person should remain calm, not resist, and avoid saying anything beyond basic identifying information until they have an attorney.

Booking Process

Booking is the administrative process of officially recording the arrest. This happens at the county jail.

Booking includes:

1.
Personal information recorded — Name, date of birth, address, physical description
2.
Photograph taken — The "mugshot"
3.
Fingerprints taken — For identification and criminal records
4.
Personal property collected — Wallet, phone, jewelry stored until release
5.
Medical screening — Basic health questions and needs assessment
6.
Background check — Criminal history and outstanding warrants reviewed
7.
Charges formally recorded — Official booking charges documented

How long does booking take?

Typically 1-3 hours, but can be longer if the jail is busy (weekend nights especially) or if there are issues with identification or warrants.

Bail Determination

After booking, bail must be set before release can happen.

Bail schedule (immediate bail):

Many counties have pre-set bail amounts for common offenses. If the charges are on this schedule, bail is set immediately during booking—no judge required.

Bail hearing (judicial determination):

For serious charges, felonies, or when the bail schedule doesn't apply, the defendant must appear before a judge or magistrate. This typically happens within 24-48 hours of arrest (sometimes up to 72 hours on weekends).

At the bail hearing:

•Judge reviews charges and criminal history
•Prosecution may argue for high bail or no bail
•Defense (or defendant) can argue for lower bail or ROR
•Judge sets bail amount and any conditions

Factors affecting bail amount:

Severity of charges
Criminal history
Flight risk

Community ties
Danger to community

Time in Holding

Between booking and release, the defendant is held in jail.

What they experience:

•Placed in a holding cell or general housing
•May be with other detainees
•Limited phone access (calls are typically collect or require prepaid account)
•Basic meals provided
•No personal belongings (stored until release)

Can you contact them?

The defendant can usually make phone calls once booking is complete. Calls from jail require the recipient to accept charges or use a prepaid jail phone system. They may call you to arrange bail.

Can you visit?

Jails have specific visitation hours and rules. However, if you're working on bail, your time is better spent getting them released than visiting them inside.

Posting Bail

Once bail is set, you can post bail to secure release.

Your options:

1.
Cash bond — Pay the full amount to the jail
2.
Surety bond — Contact a bail bondsman (most common)
3.
Property bond — Pledge real estate (complex, slower)

Using a bail bondsman (fastest option):

1.Call Connie's Bail Bonding: (256) 601-2041
2.Provide defendant's name, DOB, charges, bail amount
3.Complete paperwork (can be done by phone)
4.Pay premium (10%) plus state fees
5.We post the bond at the jail
6.Defendant is processed for release

Release Processing

After bail is posted, the jail processes the release. This is often called "outtake."

Release process includes:

Verification of bond paperwork
Confirmation that no other holds exist (warrants from other jurisdictions)
Return of personal property
Release paperwork signed
Defendant physically released

How long does release take?

•DeKalb County Jail: Typically 2-8 hours
•Cherokee County Jail: Typically 2-10 hours

Release time depends on staffing, time of day, and how busy the jail is. Overnight and weekend releases often take longer.

After Release

Once released, the defendant has obligations:

Immediate priorities:

1.Get court date information (should be provided at release)
2.Contact an attorney if they don't have one
3.Understand bail conditions (travel restrictions, check-ins, etc.)
4.Stay in contact with cosigner and bondsman

Ongoing obligations:

•Attend ALL court appearances (missing one triggers forfeiture)
•Follow any bail conditions set by the judge
•Keep bondsman informed of address/phone changes
•Show up on time—being late can be treated as failure to appear

What happens at court:

The case proceeds through arraignment, pretrial hearings, and potentially trial. This can take months. The defendant must appear at every scheduled hearing until the case concludes.

Timeline Summary

Stage	Typical Timeframe
Arrest to arrival at jail	30 min - 1 hour
Booking process	1-3 hours
Bail set (schedule)	Immediate after booking
Bail set (hearing required)	24-72 hours
Bail posted to release	2-10 hours
Total (best case):	4-6 hours
Total (worst case):	3-4 days

The biggest variable is whether bail is set immediately or requires a hearing. Once bail is posted, release is usually same-day. Connie's Bail Bonds is available 24/7 to help navigate this process and get your loved one released quickly.

Someone You Know Just Got Arrested?

We can start the bail process right now—call 24/7.

Call 256-601-2041