The holiday season is here, and that means lots of good cheer, family time, and an increase in crime rates. You read that correctly; the holidays often see an increase in shoplifting, home invasion, and package theft rates. This increase in crime also means there are more arrests, leading to an increased demand for bail hearings. All this combined with the hustle and bustle of the holiday season means that the legal process can be delayed. While it’s best to stay on the right side of the law all the time, being on Santa’s nice list during the holiday season will save you and your loved ones plenty of heartache and stress.
Crime in the Holiday Season
It seems counterintuitive that while the world is celebrating the holidays, there is an increase in crime, but there are many reasons that make committing illegal acts more tempting than usual. An abundance of bright displays in stores seemingly overflowing with goods, packages on porches that seem perfect for taking, or a door to a house that seems easy to crack open, the opportunities are more tempting than ever. Many people may even have good intentions with their theft such as providing gifts for their families; however, taking others’ things is never a good choice, it often leads to feelings of guilt and comes with jail time. Staying home for the holidays is more of a gift to your family than any stolen goods!
Holiday Jail, Delays in Bail
If you or a loved one has experienced the process of an arrest, jail, and bail hearings during the holiday season, you will know that there are more delays than usual. Legal hours for bail justices are weekdays year-round except for federal holidays. Generally, a holiday may interrupt the process by 24 hours, but when the federal holidays of Christmas and New Year’s roll around, your hearings can be very delayed.
Judges are working fewer hours during this time, and the increase in crime rates during the holidays can slow the process down even more. If you happen to be arrested near this time, it is not certain whether you’ll be able to go home for the holidays. Thankfully, if you or a loved one is arrested, you can still arrange a bail bond in time for the hearing. Bail bond businesses like Mercy Bail Bonds provide service 24/7/365, so be sure that you have a service like this on hand for any situations that may come your way!
Preventing Jail Time in the Winter
The holiday season is the worst time to be arrested for several reasons, there are delays, legal employees are preoccupied with going home to their families, and arrested people are stuck wondering if they will be able to go home for the holidays. Avoiding criminal activity, and others that participate in crime can be a great first step to prevent a holiday arrest and focusing on things that matter such as family time and community can be a great outlet for any stress and worry that may cause someone to be more prone to committing a crime.
Final Thoughts
Staying on the right side of the law will give you and your family peace of mind and comfort during the holiday season. However, if you or a loved one happens to be arrested, know that there will likely be delays, but there are bail bond companies available to help you out at any time. If you or a loved one needs a responsible, trusted, and dedicated bail bond company, call Mercy Bail Bonds to see if they can help.