What to Do If You Are Arrested

A guy I know was recently arrested.  His mother called me in a panic and it reminded me that such a run in with law enforcement/the justice system can be something people are totally unknowledgeable about and unprepared for.  Here's some tips if you end up in this sort of situation:

• Have an emergency fund to cover bail and an attorney if needed.
• There are several general rules to follow if you are arrested.  Read this, this, this, this, and this before you get into this situation.
• Have someone who is on the outside who can help you (pay bail, find an attorney, call in sick to work, etc).
• It's always good if you have friends who are attorneys or who know attorneys.  Picking someone out of a phone book is a crap shoot, defaulting to a public defender can be worse (most are underpaid and extremely oveworked).
• Understand the bail process.
• Don't commit a crime (overly simplified but many people who end up arrested could avoid a world of drama and financial ruin by not being an idiot and driving drunk, beating up the spouse, stealing, etc).