Picked up on a criminal charge in the city of Wylie? The first course of action will be to make sure you're properly 'booked' (i.e., fingerprinted, photographed, charged, etc.). From there, it becomes a guessing game as to whether you'll be granted bail or what the amount of your bond will be. The next step rests squarely in the hands of the city's magistrate judge. He or she will hold a formal hearing. Here's what you can expect.
The Wylie Municipal Court is where most hearings will take place. If it's a less serious (class C misdemeanor) crime, then you'll likely be staying in the Wylie City Jail. Otherwise, you'll be held for a maximum of 72 hours and either released or transferred to the Collin County Detention Center. Within 24 hours of booking, however, the judge has a decision to make. And that's where the magistrate's hearing comes into play.
The Magistrate Judge will expect you to be on your best behavior and adhere to the court's rules of etiquette, which are available at this link. Some examples:
Basically, act like you have manners. While these may be little issues to you, they tell the judge how responsible of a person you are. Defy him or her at your own expense.
Once your professionalism is in the open, the judge will look at the severity of the charges. He or she will look at your history. They'll determine whether you're a flight risk. They'll look at the bond schedule and listen to arguments from either the prosecutor or defense to determine whether the schedule amount is necessary or if it should be adjusted up or down.
Ultimately, you'll walk out of this meeting with a clear idea of what the bond amount is. You can then pay the bond amount yourself or seek our help.
We know the process. We act faster than a jackrabbit to get you out as soon as the magistrate's hearing is complete.
Also, we have the resources to pay the amount upfront while offering flexible financing options to you. This allows you to pay in installments that work around your family budget instead of being forced to empty out whatever savings you've got or being forced to sell valuable family heirlooms.
But above all, we care. You are treated with dignity and respect every step of the way. We're your partner in this. We're not your judge or jury.
You shouldn't have to spend an overnight in the lockup if you don't have to. Focus instead on your defense and tying up any loose ends before the hearing date. Those are not decisions you want to make from the Wylie City Jail or CCDC. Click here for more information on how we can get the process rolling.