What Is The Arrest Process?

Once you’ve been arrested and put in jail, on the first non-weekend day you’ll arraigned; at the arraignment, they’ll advise you of your next court date, which could be  anywhere from two to six weeks away.  2 weeks to 6 weeks away. Once you’re arraigned, your bail is set, usually by the Bail Commissioner; they’ll check into your record and personal life and recommend to the court whether you should have a promise to appear or bail and how high the bail should be.

How Long Does a Typical Criminal Case Take to Resolve?

They will advise you of available diversionary programs the first time you’re in court. After that, you will apply for the program, then come back within a month and they make sure that you’re eligible and that’s it; two court appearances. If you’re not eligible for any diversionary programs, it can take many more court appearances over many months before the case is resolved.

Can You Get Criminal Charges Reduced?

That’s possible, of course, but in most cases, if they don’t have a record, they will be directed into an available diversionary program because that way, they will continue to not have a criminal record. Everything depends, however, on the severity of the crime and their previous record as to whether or not charges can be reduced or dropped or they’re going to be eligible for diversionary program.

The main idea is to get people back on their feet the best way possible after being charged with a crime. Hopefully, after the completion of their sentence or the diversionary program, people will get the help they need, whether it’s treatment for alcohol or substance abuse or anger management issues or family violence issues, and after that, they’ll be able to get back into their normal life and not have to deal with any of those issues in the future.

What Are the Qualities to Look for When Hiring an Attorney for a Criminal Case?

You should look for an attorney with many years of experience, not just as a lawyer, but with handling criminal cases just like yours. You want an attorney who cares about you as a person, and not just as a number and a dollar sign.

When you go into that initial consultation, ask a lot of questions about how many years the attorney has practiced the type of law you need and how long they have practiced in that particular court, and how often; you should get an idea how often they have handled your kind of case in that court. Just as important is to ask questions about their time and their personal commitment to your case, and what their policy is on talking to clients and returning phone calls and emails.

It’s also important for you to listen to your attorney; too often, people want to blame something or someone else for what they’ve done and not take responsibility for their own actions. The court wants to see that you take responsibility for your actions and do what you need to do to make sure that it won’t happen again. They want you to help yourself, if you need help in any area of your life, and resolve your issues.

For more information on The Process After An Arrest, a free initial consultation is your best next step. Get the information and legal answers you’re seeking by calling (203) 929-7771 today.