The call comes. Your son, your husband, your sister — someone you love has been arrested. Your heart is racing and you don't know where to start.
We have walked hundreds of families through this moment. Here is the sequence that matters.
Step by Step — The First 60 Minutes
Find out which jail they were taken to, what they were charged with, and — if possible — what the bond amount is. If you don't know, that's fine. We can look it up. Use our inmate lookup tool or call us directly.
Some jails offer a cash bond option, but paying the full bond amount in cash to the court is rarely the right move for most families. A bondsman covers the full amount for a fraction of the cost. Before you wire or deposit anything, call a licensed bondsman first.
The sooner you call, the sooner we can get started on paperwork. We can begin the process while booking is still in progress — so the moment a bond amount is set, we are ready to move. Call A1 at (985) 346-8337 — we answer day and night.
Booking takes 2–6 hours at most South Louisiana jails. No bond can be posted until it is done. This is the hardest part — the waiting. Use this time to gather what you need: ID, any co-signer information, and payment for the bond premium.
As soon as your loved one is out, the legal process begins. The earlier a defense attorney is involved, the better. Ask around, check reviews, and try to have a consultation scheduled within the first day or two after release.
Every court date is mandatory. Missing a court appearance can result in a new warrant, immediate arrest, and forfeiture of the bond. Write the dates down. Set reminders. Take this seriously from day one.
One thing we tell every family: Do not try to talk to the arresting officer or prosecutor on your own. Do not post anything on social media about the arrest. Anything said — by you or by the defendant — can surface in court. Silence is the right answer until an attorney is involved.
What You Do Not Need to Figure Out Right Now
You do not need to understand the full legal process tonight. You do not need to know how every piece of this unfolds. Right now, your job is one thing: get your loved one home so they can face what comes next from a position of stability.
The rest — the attorney, the court strategy, the long-term plan — comes after they are out. One step at a time.
We Have Seen This Before
In three generations of doing this work in South Louisiana, we have seen families hold together through situations that looked impossible at the start. An arrest is not the end of someone's story. It is a crisis point — and crisis points can be navigated when the right people are in your corner.
That is why we are here. That is why we answer the phone at 3 a.m.
A family member was just arrested. We can help right now.
Call (985) 346-8337We serve Terrebonne, Lafourche, Assumption, St. Mary, and surrounding parishes. Offices in Houma and Napoleonville.
See also: Inmate lookup tool · Bail bond FAQ · How our process works