Should I turn myself in?

Question

I have warrants (8) for hot checks. My dad said that he would pay for my fines, but he has already bailed me out from previous disasters. I have never been to jail but I would really like to take responsiblity for myself. I just don't know if I sould let my dad help me, or sit in jail for a while?

Answer 1

Be responsible. Turn yourself in & accept your punishment no matter what it will be. It's better than to have this looming over your head the rest of your life. Just make sure you don't do anything like this again. Once done with all this, you'll be able to turn over a new leaf & start your life over fresh.

Answer 2

With outstanding warrants for your arrest, you will have to spend at least 'some' time in jail - for at the very least the booking process and most of that day (in a best case scenario).

Each warrant has a bail amount. If for example each warrant was for $5,000 (a conservative estimate), then 8 of them would be up around $40k. And it may be alot more than that. You will need - or someone will need - to come up with at least 10% of the total bail amount if using a bail bond agency. This is 10% that is not later returned.

On top of the above financial figures is restitution on the bad checks. I don't know who much that might add up to. You would be interested in restitution though, because paying back on this is the most significant way you may gain some favor before a sentencing judge. Restitution speaks loudly.

Then weeks, if not months, down the line you will be faced with sentencing. That might be another fine, or incarceration, or a combination or both......"if" you are convicted of anything. Only you know the likelihood of this right now.

I think sons and daughters should spare their parents of over-assisting on matters like this. He's done it before. It's time for you to take over on this one and do the best you can.

Depending on your prior record and the seriousness of the current matters, you may not sit in jail as long as you think. You may be given some slack in getting out, on promise that you make all your court appearances. By slack, I don't mean a free pass though.

Sometimes a person is put in jail on warrants for say $50,000, and the bail is reduced if the defendant, through his/her attorney, convinces the judge you're not a flight risk and you really mean to take care of this and get it behind you.

Answer 3

You shouldn't have used those checks in the first place...especially if your dad has already bailed you out of several other disasters. If you really want to take responsibility for your own actions, I would suggest doing the jail time, instead of letting your dad shoulder the financial burden again. However, the best thing (without jail time) would be ask your dad to help you out one last time. Then get a job and work your butt off to pay him back...and STOP handing out bad checks.

Answer 4

I'm not an American but from what I've been told it will be much better for you to surrender yourself than wait until the police finally pick you up.

Besides, you don't want to get arrested somewhere in public and marched off in cuffs with people gawking at you, do you?

If you were my daughter I'd move heaven and earth to keep you from doing jail time, okay? If you go to your Dad and tell him that you want to turn yourself in, I am sure he will respect you for having the guts to face up to what you've done and he'll help you get a lawyer who will organize for you to surrender yourself and also negotiate your bail.

That will also send a signal to the Judge that you are truly remorseful and willing to get things settled, and that kind of attitude -- anywhere in the world -- means a lot when someone else is deciding about your future.

Okay, so you kited some checks. It's not like you murdered anyone, so in my opinion you're basically a good person who got in some bad spots. You've been honest with yourself and laid it on the line and that's the bravest thing anyone can do.

I respect you immensely for that.

I hope they go easy on you, and I also hope that you'll soon be able to put all this stuff behind you and get on with life.

Call your Dad or go see him and get this all over and done with. He'll back you and he'll respect you for it.

And you'll sleep easier.

Peace,

Lenky.

Answer 5

In the grand scheme, you will feel so much better about yourself knowing that you resolved this yourself. The justice system will be more forgiving if you turn yourself in, with a plan to pay off the debts. If you can not pay with even a payment plan, suggest community service.
With the worst scenario being in jail, this is still better than living with the guilt.

I know you are a person with a conscious. Otherwise you would not be asking. When in doubt, be true to your heart and values.

You need to be brave in this case, but I believe the truth will give you strength!

Answer 6

Plead insanity like everyone else. Seriously, I would try to find an attorney who would help me. Maybe you can begin to make payments and having an attorney may keep you out of jail. I had an acquaintance that went to jail for writing bad checks. She spent 30 days. I think it also has to do with the amounts. If you bought items ie clothes, stereos or something like that, it is different than if you paid your electric bill. Try to find some help and CLOSE your checking account.

Answer 7

It might go better for you if you turn yourself in rather than make the police look for you. Sooner or later they'll find you and you'll be there anyway. You need to learn not to write hot checks or if you can't get control of it, get rid of your checking account. Dad can only pay so many times. If you keep getting in trouble, sooner or later you'll have to go to jail even if you do pay the fines.

Answer 8

It's time to take some responsibility for your own life, unless you want to always run to your daddy everytime something goes wrong.

I know you don't want to hear it, but you should go to jail for a while, if nothing else you may figure out that doing stupid things like this isn't worth loosing your freedom for however many days or months and grow up.

You can still be yourself and fight the system if that is what you are trying to do, but you can do it in other ways, like peaceful protests and the sort.

Do the right thing and show your parents that you can take responsibility for your own actions.

Answer 9

Take responsibility for your actions.. and you'll be suprised what may come of it. I stole a credit card once, and spent it to the limit.. after a while, I started to feel really bad, so I turned myself in. I was 24.. and they allowed me to go through alternative measures. I had to take counselling, and a money management course.. I never had to pay back the money and I never went to jail. I also don't have a criminal record.

Keep in mind it was my first offence, but I took responsibility, and told them that I knew what I did was wrong. That counts for a lot.

Answer 10

Being an adult is all about responsibilities. I would definitely advise you to turn yourself in. These charges won't go away.

I also want to say that when you take responsibility for these charges, you also need to look at what got you into trouble in the first place. I know a few people who have been in your situation and it wasn't all about money. There were other issues that needed to be dealt with as well.

I wish you well and hope that you find the strength in yourself to move forward from this.

Answer 11

Well you more than likely won't go to jail at all. They will just book and release you. What that means is they will take you in, take your finger prints, etc and give you a court date. Then you will find out how much you owe and usually they will let you set up payment arrangements. You might have to do a little community service later on but that will be it. So I would just go get it over with.