After 30 years in this business, we have seen almost everything. And one of the most consistent things we have seen is families — acting out of love and urgency — accidentally making a difficult situation harder. Not because they meant to. Because no one told them what not to do.
Consider this that conversation.
What the Arrested Person Should NOT Do
Do Not Talk to Police Without an Attorney Present
Do not do this: Answer questions about the incident, explain what happened, try to talk your way out of it, or agree to "just have a conversation" with investigators.
The right to remain silent is real and it is important. Anything said to law enforcement after arrest can and will be used as evidence. The instinct to explain yourself is natural — and it is the instinct that creates the most problems. The only words that should come out of a defendant's mouth before speaking with an attorney: "I want a lawyer."
Do Not Consent to Searches
If an officer asks permission to search a vehicle, home, or property, a person has the right to decline. Consenting to a search waives Fourth Amendment protections that might otherwise apply. Politely declining is legal. An attorney can advise on the specifics later.
Do Not Make Jail Phone Calls About the Case
Do not do this: Call family and discuss what happened, who else was involved, or what to do about the evidence.
Jail phone calls are recorded. This is not a secret — it is standard practice at every parish jail in Louisiana. Prosecutors regularly pull jail call recordings. Conversations that seem innocent — "tell them I wasn't there" or "get rid of the car" — become evidence. Keep jail calls short, factual, and limited to: I am okay, call a bondsman, get me an attorney.
What Families on the Outside Should NOT Do
Do Not Post About It on Social Media
Do not do this: Post on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, or any platform about the arrest — what happened, who was involved, or your opinions about the charges or the arresting officers.
Social media posts are public record. They can be screenshotted, preserved, and introduced as evidence. They can prejudice the case. They can violate bond conditions. They serve no useful purpose and carry significant risk. Say nothing publicly until the case is resolved.
Do Not Try to Contact Alleged Victims or Witnesses
This is especially critical in domestic violence or assault cases where a no-contact order may already be in effect. Any contact with an alleged victim — even a friendly message, even through a third party — can result in immediate re-arrest and revocation of bond. None.
Do Not Wait to Contact a Bondsman and an Attorney
Every hour your loved one sits in jail is an hour they are not at home, not working, not with their family. The booking process takes time — but as soon as it is underway, call a bondsman. Do not wait until morning. Do not assume someone else is handling it.
The rule is simple: In the hours after an arrest, say less, do less, and call the right people fast. A bondsman to get them home. An attorney to protect their rights. Everything else can wait.
Why We Tell Families This
Our job starts and ends with getting people home and making sure they make their court dates. But we have watched too many cases get harder than they needed to be because of things said in the first 24 hours — in a jail cell, on a phone call, in a Facebook post.
We are not attorneys. This is not legal advice. But this is the honest guidance we give every family we work with, because we want the people we help to come out of this in the best position possible.
Need to get someone home tonight? Call us first.
Call (985) 346-8337 — 24/7Related: What to do the first hour after an arrest · Finding the right attorney