If you are a member of the military, there are certain things that work differently for you from the general public. Getting arrested is one of them. The military expects that you are going to bring honor upon this country both in your personal life and in your professional life. There are a few bonuses to being arrested while in the military, but a lot more negatives.
Legal Counsel
As long as you are in good standing with the military, you are eligible for access to the legal assistance office. This means that the military will help you figure out your next steps. This also means that you will be alerting the military to your legal situation. If legal fees are a problem for you, you may be able to qualify for monetary assistance as well. Married soldiers in E-4 or below and single soldiers in E-3 and below usually meet the requirements. If offered, take the help and the legal advice.
Postpone Your Court Date
Military commitments take priority over court dates. You may be able to reschedule your court date based on what your unit is currently involved with. In order to make this happen, you must have tried your hardest to appear in court for your original date, and you must apply for the shortest delay possible. If everything lines up, you may be able to grant yourself more time.
Rank
Depending on your infraction, you may find yourself being bumped down in rank. The military does not take to crime. If you are sentenced to 30 days or more in jail, but not more than a year, you may find yourself bumped down a pay grade. You can also be denied future promotions based on your criminal history and activity. Getting arrested might not just affect your situation now, but also your future plans.
Security Clearance
If you have security clearance within the military, you may find that you don’t have it anymore. It may be removed or reduced based on your criminal activity. Only those with a clean history are allowed higher security clearances, meaning that you may no longer be able to do your job effectively. Things as small as drug or alcohol abuse an even effect your clearance.
Dismissal
If the charge is serious enough, you may even find yourself discharged from the army. A dishonorable discharge means that you will not be able to collect any benefits in the future. You can lose your health insurance, your pension and everything else you have been working so hard to achieve. If you are lucky enough to receive a general discharge, you may be able to keep some of your benefits, but not your position.
If you find yourself in a situation where you need bail, contact Raleigh Bail Bonds immediately. We can help to get you out of the situation so that you can get the help you need from the military offices. We work quickly and efficiently to get you what you need so you can be on your way and ready to get legal help.