Getting arrested raises a lot of immediate questions, from what happens with the court system to what happens the moment help is called. The following covers the timeline for a first court appearance after release, and what happens on the phone when someone reaches out to the Complete Legal Defense Team for help, day or night.
Frequently Asked Questions
Arrested in South Carolina and Out of Jail? When Is Your First Court Date
After release from jail, the first appearance, called the initial appearance, typically comes about 45 days later, roughly a month and a half to six weeks out. People often get nervous about this date, but it isn’t a full court hearing. It’s more of a “show up” proceeding, where an otherwise empty courtroom fills only with the people scheduled to appear, and the only thing that happens is each person’s name gets called.
Arrested in South Carolina? What Happens When You Call a Lawyer for Help
Calling the firm’s office, regardless of the time of day, night, weekend, or holiday, connects the caller to a person who answers the phone and gathers information about the situation. That information gets relayed to the support team, who calls back, typically not at three in the morning, but more likely around 7:00 or 7:30 a.m. There’s still time to act on the situation if the caller decides to hire the firm at that point. The initial call also helps determine whether hiring a lawyer is needed right away, later, or possibly not at all.
Arrested in South Carolina Right Now? When to Call a Lawyer
In an arrest emergency, the first call goes to an answering service rather than directly to a lawyer. Once the answering service identifies it as an emergency requiring immediate help, a message goes out, and a member of the support team calls back, either very early in the morning or in the evening if it isn’t too late. That callback gathers information and helps determine whether a lawyer is needed. If so, that information gets passed along to one of the firm’s lawyers, meaning a caller may not speak with a lawyer directly the same night.
Facing an arrest in South Carolina can be overwhelming, but having a clear picture of what comes next can ease some of that uncertainty. Greg McCollum brings roughly 30 years of experience and a background as a former prosecutor to every case, giving clients insight into how the system works from both sides.
If you have questions about being arrested in South Carolina, call the Greg McCollum Complete Legal Defense Team at (843) 626-5480. Consultations are confidential.
