What Do You Do If a Friend or Family Member Gets Arrested in DC?

Scrofano Law PC is D.C.’s premiere Criminal, DUI and Cannabis defense firm. We give anyone who cares about their future a fighting chance when they are facing the full weight of the criminal justice system.

When a friend or family member gets arrested, it is a scary, difficult and unexpected event. There is some practical information that people should know in case they get the unthinkable call that police have arrested a friend or loved one.

First, understand that the person will immediately be brought to the police district in which the incident occurred. That is also where the arrestee will ultimately have to return to get their personal property like cell phone, wallet, purse and keys. You can find the addresses and contact information for each police district here.

Second, if the person is eligible for citation release, then the police will release them after several hours of booking at that station. Eligibility requirements for citation release depend on several factors.

Once they have been processed, police will release them from the station with a Citation to Return to Court in 2 to 4 weeks.

Next, if they are not eligible for release from the station, the next place police will take them is Central Cellblock where they will likely spend the night. Contact information for Central Cell Block can be found here.

While friends and family members are not allowed to go see them at Central Cell Block, a criminal defense attorney is. It is likely they will stay the night at Central Cell Block and be brought to D.C. Superior Court where they will go before a judge who will determine whether to release them with conditions or hold them for at least 3 to 5 more days.

Before you think it cannot happen to you or a loved one, please consider the following circumstances that often lead to the arrest of folks who are ordinarily law-abiding citizens:

1. DUI — We have represented folks who police have stopped for such minor conduct as failing to use a blinker to pull out of a parking space. We have represented folks who were arrested, charged and prosecuted by the DC Office of Attorney general despite blowing below 0.8. D.C. aggressively enforces drunk driving laws.
2. Simple Assault — With hundreds of bars and restaurants and a vibrant nightlife scene, fights breaking out between patrons who have had too much to drink happen on a regular basis. Police often arrive at the scene after the fact, try their best to figure out what happened, but do not always arrest the true “aggressor” in the situation.
3. Fake ID’s — With more than 10 colleges in the area and routine police stings in places like Georgetown and Adams Morgan, having a child get arrested for a fake ID is a totally common occurrence for parents with college age children. Making a mistake like this should not cost your kid their future.
4. Marijuana — Despite the fact weed has been legalized to possess small amounts at the local level, arrest numbers for marijuana have caught up to pre-legalization levels. Smoking in public, accepting “renumeration” for weed and possessing concentrates, vapes, oils and waxes remain illegal — not to mention it all remains illegal under federal law.
5. Hit and Run — Traffic in D.C. resembles something out of Mad Max. Folks sometimes panic after accidentally hitting a vehicle especially when the other driver gets out of the car in full road rage mode yelling and screaming at the other driver. A split second bad decision to flee rather than wait for police can lead to an arrest.
6. Domestic Violence — D.C. law requires police to make an arrest anytime an allegation of domestic violence is made. It’s not uncommon for a heated argument between partners to escalate into an arrest when neighbors call the police even where no actual violence occurs.

At Scrofano Law PC, we routinely represent professional, law abiding citizens who often have either made a mistake in an isolated incident or made a series of mistakes during a rough patch in their life. Having the right representation in your corner can be all the difference in the world.

If you or a friend or family member gets arrested, the first step should be to contact an experienced criminal defense lawyer who can help you locate the person and prepare to defend the charges.

At Scrofano Law PC, we are available 24/7 when the unthinkable occurs. We can walk you through every step of what to expect in a D.C. criminal case and we will fight for them throughout the process. Contact us at 202-765-3175 to schedule a consultation.