3. Prepare to turn yourself in
Question & Answer
I missed my court date. What happens now?If you can't get the cancelled, prepare to turn yourself in. It's better to turn yourself in than to wait for the police to pick you up.
After you turn yourself in, the police may not let you leave. This is called being held in . So, before you go to the police station, prepare to be held in custody for a bail hearing.
Don’t bring personal property
Don't bring any to the police station that you aren't prepared to leave with the police.
If you are not released right away, the police will hold your personal property until you:
- get , or
- give permission for someone to pick up your property.
Don’t bring your car
You may want to have someone give you a ride to the station. If you don't bring your car, you won't have to arrange to have it moved if you aren't released.
Write down important phone numbers
The police may take your cell phone as , or put it in your property bag while you're in custody. This can make it difficult for you to look up the phone numbers of family and friends. That is why it is so important that you write down the phone numbers before you go to the police station.
Write down the phone numbers of family or friends who would be willing to be a at your . If you don't have a surety, you might not get bail.
A surety is someone who agrees to supervise you while you're in the community on bail. Your surety is responsible for you.
It may even be a good idea to talk to people who may be willing to be your surety before you turn yourself in. That way they will be prepared if you phone them later from the police station.
