Finding a Criminal Attorney While in Jail

If you have been charged with a criminal offense and have been denied bail (or bail is set too high for you to afford), then you will have to find a criminal attorney to represent you while you are in jail. This might seem like a formidable task, and it is, unless you know how to go about it.

Out of jail, people who need a criminal attorney have more options because they can research backgrounds and obtain references. In jail you don’t have any of those luxuries, but often your future depends on the abilities of your criminal attorney. So how do you go about finding a criminal attorney while in jail?

(1) Civil or Criminal Attorneys You’ve Used Before

If you have used a civil or criminal attorney in the past, you can always contact that attorney and either ask them to represent you or request a referral. Attorneys in civil practice are often competent to represent defendants in criminal proceedings as well, but it might be better to obtain a referral.

(2) Friends & Family Member Referrals

You have the right to contact friends or family members while in jail, so ask them to give you a referral for an attorney or to do some research and find a competent criminal attorney for you. Since they are not in jail, they have the time and resources to do your research for you. Just make sure that the person you ask to do this for you is trustworthy and of sound common sense judgment.

(3) Bail Bondsmen

Even if you are not in a position to post bail for yourself, you can contact a local bail bondsman and request a criminal attorney referral. Because bail bondsmen deal with bail, attorneys and courts on a daily basis, they will be familiar with the choices of criminal attorneys in your area.

(4) Inmates

I only recommend this as a last resort, but you can ask fellow inmates if they are happy with their criminal attorneys and request referrals. Be careful about who you talk to about this, and don’t share any confidential information about your case. Obtaining the name and phone number of a criminal attorney is enough; you can explain the situation once you get them on the phone.

(5) Request a Public Defender

If you can legally be considered indigent by the state, you can submit a request for a public defender. A public defender is a criminal attorney who takes cases from defendants who cannot afford to represent themselves otherwise. This is only an option if you are financially incapable of hiring a private criminal attorney.