Just Arrested in Prince George's County? Here is What to Do
If you are reading this, you are likely panicking. Take a deep breath. What you do in the next few hours matters more than anything else.
If your loved one was just arrested in Prince George's County, they are likely being processed at the Prince George's County Detention Center in Upper Marlboro. The system here moves fast, but it can be confusing.
Here is your immediate checklist to protect them and get them home.
1. Locate Them
Most arrests in PG County go to the detention center in Upper Marlboro.
- Facility: Prince George's County Detention Center
- Location: Upper Marlboro, MD
- Check Custody: Use VineLink to confirm they have been booked.
Booking can take 2 to 8 hours depending on how busy the facility is. PG County processes a high volume of arrests, so expect the longer end of that range on weekends and holidays. During this time, your loved one will not have access to their personal phone. They will eventually be able to call you from the detention center's phone system.
2. Do Not Discuss the Case on the Phone
Once booked, your loved one might call you. Do not ask what happened.
Every call from the jail is recorded. Prosecutors listen to these calls to build their case. Stick to:
- "I love you."
- "I am hiring a lawyer."
- "Don't say anything to anyone."
It does not matter how innocent the conversation sounds. If your loved one mentions a name, a place, or a detail about what happened, that recording can show up in court. Keep it to logistics only.
3. Tell Them to Remain Silent
This is not just a line from TV. It is the most critical rule. Detectives in Prince George's County are trained to get statements. They will act friendly. They will say they "just want to clear this up." They might want to "hear your side of the story."
Do not let your loved one talk.
The only thing they should say is: "I want a lawyer."
Once they invoke that right, questioning must stop. But if they start talking first, anything they say is fair game. Even casual conversation with cellmates can become a problem if someone decides to cooperate with prosecutors later.
4. Understand What Happens During Booking
After arriving at the PG County Detention Center, your loved one goes through a standard booking process:
- Identification and fingerprinting. Officers take photographs, fingerprints, and personal information.
- Property intake. Personal belongings are collected and stored.
- Medical screening. A brief health check is conducted.
- Charging documents. The arresting officer prepares a statement of charges and submits it to a commissioner.
PG County handles one of the highest arrest volumes in Maryland, so this process can take longer here than in smaller jurisdictions. Be patient, but keep checking VineLink for status updates.
5. The Commissioner Review
After booking, your loved one will see a commissioner. Commissioners are available 24/7, including weekends and holidays. This is the first bail determination.
The commissioner has three options:
- Release on recognizance (ROR). No money required. Your loved one signs a promise to appear in court.
- Cash bail. A specific dollar amount must be posted before release.
- Hold without bond. Your loved one stays in custody until a judge reviews the case.
Commissioners in PG County deal with high volume, which means the wait to see one can be long. Unlike judges, commissioners usually stick to cash bails and do not have the broad range of pretrial release options that judges do.
If the commissioner sets a cash bail, you can either post the full amount yourself at the detention center (this money is returned after the case resolves) or use a bail bondsman who typically charges around 10% of the total bail as a non-refundable fee. For more details, read our How to Bail Someone Out in PG County guide.
6. Get Ready for the Bail Hearing
If the commissioner does not release your loved one, the next step is a Bail Review Hearing before a judge.
In Prince George's County District Court, bail review hearings happen at 1:30 PM in Room 261B in Upper Marlboro on weekdays while court is open. Weekend arrests wait until Monday.
Circuit Court bail review hearings take place around 10:00 AM in a rotating courtroom.
This hearing is your best chance to get them out. A judge has far more options than a commissioner. A judge can:
- Lower the cash bail
- Switch to an unsecured bond (no money required upfront)
- Order pretrial supervision with conditions like GPS monitoring, drug testing, or check-ins
- Release on recognizance
You need a lawyer there who knows the judges and knows the system.
- Learn more: Detailed Guide to PG County Bail Hearings
- Posting Bail: How to Bail Someone Out in PG County
7. How Families Can Prepare for the Hearing
If your loved one's bail hearing is tomorrow, here is what you can do tonight to give them the best shot:
- Gather information. Write down their employment status, home address, family connections, and any other ties to the community.
- Be ready to testify. Family members can speak at the bail hearing about the defendant's character, responsibility, and roots in the area. Judges in PG County take this seriously.
- Contact a lawyer now. An attorney needs time to put together a release plan. The earlier you call, the stronger the presentation will be at the 1:30 PM hearing.
- Know your financial options. If a cash bail is set, understand how much your family can post. If you can afford the full amount, post it yourself and save the bondsman fee. If not, a bail bondsman will post it for roughly 10% of the total, but that fee is gone for good.
8. Call a Lawyer Immediately
Do not wait for the "official" charges to call us. We can often get to the jail or the courthouse before the first hearing.
FrizWoods has an office directly across the street from the Upper Marlboro courthouse. We are there every day. We know the judges, the prosecutors, and the guards.
- Max Frizalone is a former PG County prosecutor.
- Luke Woods has 20 years of defense experience.
Call us 24/7: (301) 720-1917
What If the First Bail Hearing Doesn't Work?
If the judge denies bail at the first hearing, there is still a path forward. A defense attorney can file a motion for a second bail review by showing a "change in circumstances." This could include:
- Completion of a substance abuse evaluation
- A stronger release plan with GPS monitoring or a sober living arrangement
- A letter from an employer confirming a job
- New evidence favorable to the defendant
A second bail review takes real preparation. This is not something to attempt without an experienced bail review lawyer.
After Release: What You Need to Know
Getting out on bail is not the end. It is the start of a new set of obligations:
- Court dates. Missing a court date triggers a bench warrant, forfeiture of your bail money, and re-arrest. Mark every date on a calendar.
- Release conditions. The judge may have set conditions like no-contact orders, drug testing, curfew, or pretrial supervision. Violating any of these can result in immediate re-arrest and bail revocation.
- Protective orders. In domestic violence cases, a protective order may be active. Violating it is a separate criminal charge.
- Bail money. If you posted the full cash bail, it is returned after the case resolves (minus court fees). Bondsman fees are never refunded.
Common Mistakes That Hurt PG County Cases
Waiting until after the bail hearing to call a lawyer
The 1:30 PM judge hearing is often your loved one's best opportunity for release. Showing up without a lawyer drops the chances of a good outcome significantly.
Not understanding the bondsman fee
The money you pay a bail bondsman is gone forever. If your family can scrape together the full bail amount, you save that fee and get every dollar back at the end of the case.
Discussing the case on jail calls
It cannot be overstated. Calls from the PG County Detention Center are recorded. Prosecutors listen to them. Keep every conversation to "We are working on bail" and "We have a lawyer."
Posting about the arrest on social media
Prosecutors routinely check social media accounts. Do not post about the arrest, the charges, the alleged victim, or any aspect of the case online.
Talking to detectives without a lawyer
Police may contact family members for information. You are not required to speak with them. Politely decline and direct all questions to your attorney.
More Resources for PG County Arrests
- Full Guide: Arrested in PG County - Detailed Walkthrough
- Bail Help: How to Post Bail in Prince George's County
- Bail Process: How Bail Hearings Work in PG County
- DUI Arrests: PG County DUI Defense
- Statewide Guide: Someone Was Arrested in Maryland - What Do I Do?
- Bail Representation: Bail Hearings Representation