How do I Know Police Will Press Charges?
People often ask how to know if the State Attorney’s office, or the police, will press charges against them. There are several ways to know if, in fact, charges are going to be placed against you. The first and most obvious way is that you’re arrested and you’re booked into the county facility. Usually, at that point, you’ll either be given a court date when you bond out or in the mail at some point in the near future. However, it is not always that straightforward.
Depending on the specifics of the incident, you may never be placed in cuffs or booked, but that does not mean you won’t be charged with a crime. In the event you are, be sure to acquire the legal services of a seasoned criminal defense attorney. The Orlando criminal defense attorneys at The Umansky Law Firm have over 100 years of combined experience and have served as prosecutors at the state and local level. We can use our insight on how the police or prosecutors operate to best position you for a favorable outcome to your case.
The Process of Pressing Charges for Misdemeanors & Felonies
If there’s a situation where you’ve had an interaction with the police that you believe will lead to charges being filed but that has yet to happen, it could be for a number of reasons. The process of filing charges is one that varies depending on whether the charges are felony or misdemeanor. Being aware of how law enforcement will formally press charges against a suspected criminal can help you determine whether or not charges are being filed against you.
Misdemeanors
In most circumstances, if they decide to go forward with the charges, the State Attorney’s office will send you what’s called a summons to appear at court for an arraignment hearing. That’s your first court date. For misdemeanors, you’ll likely get this in the mail. They do, however, have to provide service, meaning they must serve you with a summons in order to hold you accountable. It’s their obligation to find you and to have you served at the correct address. In some rare cases, they can have the Judge issue a capias for your arrest, for instance, if your address is not correct.
Felonies
If you’ve had an interaction with a police officer that you believe will lead to felony charges, there are several ways it may occur. In most cases, the police will either apply for an arrest warrant shortly thereafter and come and pick you up at your home, or they will forward all the information from the State Attorney’s office, and the State Attorney’s office, at some point, will issue a warrant for your arrest. If you’d like to check to see if you have an active warrant, you can visit the local court’s website and type in your information.
Securing Legal Representation in Orlando
It is vital that you seek legal representation if you have even the slightest inclination that you may be in legal trouble. Law enforcement will likely try to pull a confession from you for whatever they suspect you of being guilty of, but with the help of a knowledgeable criminal defense attorney, you can be made aware of your legal options and take the proper ensuing actions. Your attorney can also represent you in court in the event your case goes to trial.
The Orlando criminal defense lawyers at The Umansky Law Firm have over 100 years of experience representing misdemeanor and felony offenses and can provide you with the passionate legal defense that you deserve. As former prosecutors, we’ve tried hundreds of Florida courtroom traffic cases, supplying you with more expertise than other legal firms are able to match. Contact us today for a free case evaluation.
