If you have been formally charged in a criminal case, you will have a criminal court appearance within the first month. That will typically be your initial appearance, which can be a preliminary hearing or an arraignment. Within those first 30 days or so, you will have a pretrial conference, which will include a judge, the prosecutor, and your defense attorney. Potentially, your presence would be needed at that pretrial hearing as well.
How Often Should I Expect To Meet With My Criminal Defense Attorney In The First 30 Days After An Arrest?
You should absolutely meet with your attorney within the first 30 days, on multiple occasions. You should meet with your attorney when you are first notified of charges against you, whether you’ve been charged formally or you are being investigated. You should meet with them again on your initial appearance in front of the court and again when they obtain discovery, and review that information with them in detail. Usually, all of those things happen within the first 30 days of being formally charged in a criminal case.
Will I Have To Meet With A Pretrial Probation Office Of Some Kind Within Those First 30 Days After An Arrest?
Most individuals will need to meet with a probation officer in some form within the first 30 days of their case. However, depending on the type of bond that is issued in your case, you may not need to meet with the probation office at all. In the case of certain misdemeanor charges and low level felonies for first-time offenders, the accused party is placed on what’s called an own recognizance bond.
Should I Enter Voluntary Counseling Or Treatment Before My First Court Date?
Deciding whether or not to attend counseling is a question that you should reserve for your attorney and you should ask them about that in your first meeting.
What Advice Would You Give To Someone Who Has Been Arrested?
The best advice anyone can get after they are charged for a criminal offense is that they need to remain silent and not talk to law enforcement. They need to consult with or hire an attorney immediately. Most importantly, they need to stay off social media, stay off of messaging services, and remove themselves from the internet to avoid hurting their case by posting information related to the case.
How Can I Find Out Where A Friend Or Family Member Has Been Taken After An Arrest?
If you are unaware of where a friend or family member is located after they have been arrested, you could ask the arresting agency. Also, some of the local county jails have online search tools to locate your friend or family member. You may also be able to call the county jail for limited information on whether they are present or not.
Can An Attorney Help My Friend Or Family Member Get Out Of Jail Right Away?
It doesn’t hurt to have an attorney advocating on your behalf. That attorney can go into the jail and visit you and knows the process of how to properly file the paperwork and who to talk to. An attorney can absolutely help your friend or family member get out of jail quicker than they would without having an attorney.
Can My Friend Or Family Member Replace The Attorney That I Have Hired On Their Behalf?
You are allowed to hire whichever attorney you feel most comfortable with. If you have an attorney who assists in the process in the beginning and you and that attorney are no longer on the same page or you want someone else’s opinion, you are completely able to hire another attorney to represent you in your case.
For more information on Court Appearance In A Criminal Case, a free initial consultation is your best next step. Get the information and legal answers you’re seeking by calling (937) 888-2909 today.