Getting arrested is a scary thing for you and your family, and it can be a difficult thing to navigate especially whenever such hard emotions are involved. It is not a small thing to deal with but taking steps to manage your arrest and bail period responsibly will decrease stress on you, your family, and even possibly help prove that you are prepared to reenter life on the right side of the law. This is a challenging time for everyone involved, but your family invested in bailing you out so that you can make the most of it, don’t let their compassion be put to waste!
Forgetting Meetings
Time spent while out on bail should not be wasted. Making the most of the time you have is important, and a very crucial use of this time is in consulting with your lawyer and anyone else involved with the case. Setting good meeting times is necessary in making sure that all the details of your case are fleshed out and being on time to these meetings will help prove that you are dedicated to following the guidelines of the system and are responsible in upholding your commitments. Being sure you stay on top of meeting dates and work to meet any deadlines will make it possible for you to appear in court with adequate preparation and confidence that you will be represented accurately.
One of the best ways to avoid forgetting meetings is to write things down. Whether it is on paper, in a specific calendar, or online using resources like Google and Apple calendar, be sure to record when you are supposed to be at a given place and give yourself enough time for travel and any delays in arriving. If you’re good at sticking to plans on paper and not forgetting them, writing things down the old-fashioned way is a great solution for you, but if you struggle to remember, try using one of the aforementioned apps as you can set a notification to remind you of the meeting sometime before it happens.
Not Communicating
Avoiding communication is something that people naturally tend to do when something upsetting has happened but is a much better strategy in times like these and in general life to use communication as a tool to ease tension and contribute meaningfully to your relationships. Communicating your thoughts, feelings, and the truth about what is going on can be very difficult to do but making sure everyone’s needs are expressed and addressed will help in keeping you and your relationships healthy.
Self-Isolation
When something bad happens, we tend to self-isolate especially if something made you feel especially bad or down on yourself (as arrests sometimes do). This knack for removing yourself from your friends and family is something that you should try to avoid because it will only make you feel alone. It is important to remember that you are never alone, there are always people there for you that care, and if you don’t see them, you can find people that care, but it is important to remember that caring goes both ways. If you find yourself withdrawing from your family and friends, try to consider coming back into their lives and being an active participant. Even though you’re going through a very stressful time, they are here for you and want to see you feel better.
Final Thoughts
Everyone makes mistakes, but some are worse than others. The good news is that the worst mistakes you can make while out on bail are completely avoidable with forethought and careful navigation of the situation. In this time, remember that you are loved, cared for, and valued, and don’t be discouraged because there are people here for you.