Thanksgiving brings people together, and it also brings long drives, late nights and old arguments. Police often add patrols for the holiday, and the night before Thanksgiving is known as one of the heaviest drinking nights of the year. If a family member is arrested over the long weekend, the next few hours matter.
Why the holiday makes it harder
Courts are closed on Thanksgiving Day. Some courts hold weekend and holiday arraignments and some do not, so a person arrested on Wednesday night may wait longer to see a judge or magistrate than on a normal weekday. Attorneys and offices are harder to reach. That makes it more important for the family to stay organized.
What to do first
- Find out where the person is being held and write down the booking information.
- Do not discuss the facts of the case on a jail phone or during a visit. Those conversations can be recorded.
- Contact a defense attorney. If the person cannot afford one, the court will appoint counsel.
- Write down everything you know while it is fresh: who was there, where it happened and what time.
Family arguments and police calls
When police are called to a family argument, an arrest can follow even if the person who called later wants to drop it. The decision to charge belongs to the prosecutor. Bond conditions often include no contact with the other person, and breaking that condition creates a new problem. Follow the conditions exactly and let the attorney handle any request to change them.
Evidence does not wait for Monday
Restaurant and bar video, doorbell cameras, ride receipts and text messages can disappear within days. Save what you have and tell the attorney what exists. Our evidence preservation checklist lists what to secure first, and our guide to the first 48 hours after an arrest walks through the steps in order.
Plan ahead
- Decide who is driving before the first drink is poured.
- Keep the number of a ride service or a sober friend handy.
- If an argument is building, step outside or leave. Most holiday arrests start with a situation someone could have walked away from.
If someone you care about is facing a charge, the defense attorney can bring in an investigator early. Phillips Private Investigations & Consulting Firm works with defense teams in every Michigan county. Call 734-941-5200 or send us a message. The consultation is free and strictly confidential.
This article is general information, not legal advice. Talk to a licensed attorney about your situation.
