Finding out where the person is
After an arrest, the person is usually taken to a local police station or a state police barracks for testing and booking. In New York City, someone held for a court appearance may be moved to a central booking facility before seeing a judge, while in other counties the first appearance may happen in a local court or a centralized arraignment session, sometimes late at night. The arresting agency can usually tell you where the person is and whether they are being released or held. Ask for the location, the charges if they will say, and any expected court time. Write those details down, because they will be the first thing a lawyer asks you.
Helping without adding to the case
Calls from a holding facility are often recorded, so encourage the person not to talk about the stop, the drinking, or the test over the phone. Gather their identification, any medication they need, and contact information for their employer if work will be missed. If the car was towed, find out where it went, though the registered owner may need to retrieve it in person. Do not contact the arresting officer to explain or vouch for the person, and do not post about the arrest. Arranging a lawyer, and passing along what you know, is usually the most useful thing you can do that night.
What the arrested person should know
Once released, the person should collect every paper they were handed and keep it together, including anything mentioning a license or a hearing. Some deadlines begin right away, especially on the license side, and in New York the license may be addressed at the first court appearance. The person should also avoid driving if the license has been taken or suspended, even for a short errand. In a first meeting, we explain what the charges mean, what has to happen before the next court date, and how family can support the person in ways that do not create new problems.
