Hillsborough County Jail is not a fun place to end up, especially if you are incarnated on the weekend. No matter what you did or what condition you are in, you will have to be ready to go through the system. This short guide will help you understand the basic of what you can expect.

When you arrive at the jail itself, you will be taken through the booking process. Depending on the time of day and the load of new intakes, be prepared for this to be a lengthy process. You might be taken to a holding cell or if you are lucky and non-violent they will let you watch television in the lobby while you are going through the booking process. Be sure to cooperate with all staff and give them your full name, social security and all other information they request. The process as a whole can take up to twelve hours.

After this, you will need to prepare for a preliminary hearing. You will be granted a phone call and the holding cells usually have payphones in which you can make a collect call. Get a hold of a family member who can then co-ordinate with an attorney. If you are not able to afford an attorney you will be assigned a public defender. If you are lucky enough it is best to avoid this as these poor guys are loaded down with other cases and will not be able to help you to the fullest of their abilities. If you are forced to go with a public defender make it very clear what you intentions are upfront. You will not be given a lot of time to put together your initial plea but listen carefully to your lawyer's advice. Upon entering the courtroom, be ready to plead your case in front of other suspects. It can be a bit unnerving if it is your first time in court but it will only last a few minutes usually.

Depending on your crime you may be granted bail. By this time, your family member and attorney will have made the proper arrangements. If not there will be local advertisements and you can call them yourself. Please give the bail bondsman your full name and not a nickname as they might have trouble finding you in the system. You will also need to give them your bail amount and most importantly that you are in Hillsborough County Jail.

Now that you have a better understanding of the criminal justice system, it is best to try and get an attorney and bail bond in advance. By keeping your head down and doing some homework, you can be out sooner than later.