how long after an arrest does the district attorney have to file charges harris county tx

by Ms. Sarina Kreiger 7 min read

Technically, yes, this is the answer most criminal defense lawyers | attorneys will give you; however, in practice, we see lower level crimes being filed within 2-6 weeks with a few going at as far as 3 months and even out to 12 months plus, in a couple of unique circumstances (sometimes prosecuting attorney offices hold off on filing charges on a large number of cases because they are waiting on the outcome of a pending appeal).

Full Answer

What happens after you get arrested on criminal charges in Texas?

The answer is, it depends. If its a felony charge, the state has 175 days to file charges (technically, they have 175 to file the official charging document known as an “Information”). If the charges are a misdemeanor, the state has 90 days to file. The speedy trial rule found in Rule 3.191 (a) spells all of this out nicely, stating that ...

How long does the state have to file charges after an arrest?

Oct 01, 2013 · Asked on Oct 01st, 2013 on Criminal Law - California More details to this question: I was arrested for elderly abuse went to jail for 3 days went to court and was told I was being realeased because da was not filling charges!Can they still …

What happens at an arraignment in Texas Criminal Court?

(a) In each case enumerated in this Code, the person making the arrest or the person having custody of the person arrested shall without unnecessary delay, but not later than 48 hours after the person is arrested, take the person arrested or have him taken before some magistrate of the county where the accused was arrested or, to provide more expeditiously to the person …

What happens if no charges are filed in a Texas indictment?

Dec 15, 2021 · Attorney Pro Tem: All attorney Pro Tem filers are to file documents through eFileTXCourt.gov Submitting a filing through the state portal does not stamp or indicate in any way if a filer is filing for the state or defense. Note: it is not a requirement for you to select a "party" in order to submit filings in a criminal case.

How long does the DA have to file charges in Texas?

B. If Amy cannot post the bond (see below) and remains in jail, then the prosecutor must file the charges against her by complaint, information or indictment within: 15 days for Class B Misdemeanor, 30 days for Class A Misdemeanor, or 90 days for any Felony.

How long do they have to indict you in Texas?

With the vast majority of federal crimes, the grand jury has five years to indict the accused. However, if the defendant is arrested and free on bond, the prosecutor has up to 180 days to secure an indictment.Jul 29, 2021

How long can you be held without charges in Texas?

When you are taken into custody, the police can legally hold you for up to 72 hours without filing charges.

How long do you have to press charges on someone in Texas?

Statute of Limitations: Felonies and Misdemeanors Like many states, Texas law sets time limits for a host of specific crimes. For crimes not specifically listed in the statute, a general statute of limitations applies: three years for felonies, and. two years for misdemeanors.

How long does it take for a felony case to go to trial in Texas?

Trial. According to the Texas felony process, trial will commence within 180 days of the arrest. You and your attorney will have the opportunity before trial to negotiate a plea deal with the prosecution.

How long after being charged do you go to court?

The data can be further broken down by charging stage: Time between the offence being committed and being charged: 323 days. Time between being charged and the first hearing: 34 days.

How can charges be dropped before court date?

Prosecutors can voluntarily dismiss charges, but they usually require persuasion and negotiation before going to court to file a dismissal. Your lawyer can also file a motion asking a judge to dismiss the charges. Most judges defer to the prosecution and rarely dismiss charges on their own.Mar 19, 2021

How long does a prosecuting attorney have to file charges?

The prosecutor must present their evidence. Prosecutors generally file criminal charges within two to three days. Because prosecutors must file so quickly, the criminal charges can change significantly over time.Nov 18, 2021

How long can police hold you without a phone call?

Normally the maximum time is 24 hours. In most cases a person is detained for a much shorter peri- od of time.

What is the statute of limitations for misdemeanors in Texas?

two yearsThe criminal statute of limitations in Texas varies, depending on the severity of the offense. The statute of limitations for misdemeanors is two years. Unless specified, it's three years for felonies.May 20, 2018

How long is the statute of limitations?

No, but statutes of limitations generally allow at least one year. Except for when you sue a government agency, you almost always have at least one year from the date of harm to file a lawsuit, no matter what type of claim you have or which state you live in.

Is there a statute of limitations in Texas?

The statute of limitations is set at five years in Texas for the following crimes: Theft or robbery, kidnapping or burglary, injury to elderly or disabled individuals that is not a felony, abandoning or endangering a child and insurance fraud. Other felonies have a three-year statute of limitations in place.Nov 11, 2016

How long do the police have to investigate a crime?

If an individual is released on pre-charge bail, the police have an initial time limit of 28 days to continue their investigation. However, this can be extended to three months by a senior police officer.

What happens after arrest in Texas?

After you're arrested, the police officer will either take you directly to the police department's jail or the Harris County Jail. Whether you go to the police department's jail or the Harris County Jail depends on which police department arrests you and how busy things are during that shift.

How long does a prosecuting attorney have to file charges?

The prosecutor must present their evidence. Prosecutors generally file criminal charges within two to three days. Because prosecutors must file so quickly, the criminal charges can change significantly over time.Nov 18, 2021

What evidence do the police need to charge you?

The evidence they gather includes documentary, physical, photographic and other forensic evidence and not just witness testimony. The police arrest and interview suspects. All of this produces a file which when complete the police send to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) for review and a decision on prosecuting.Oct 12, 2020

How long does the district attorney have to file charges in Texas?

If Amy is not in jail, then generally, the prosecutor has up to 2 years from the date of the offense to file misdemeanor charges. Otherwise the case is dismissed and can never be prosecuted. In a felony case, depending upon the specific offense, the prosecutor may have up to 5, 7, or 10 years to file charges.

How long does it take for a felony case to go to trial in Texas?

Trial. According to the Texas felony process, trial will commence within 180 days of the arrest. You and your attorney will have the opportunity before trial to negotiate a plea deal with the prosecution.

How long does it take to get a court date for a misdemeanor in Texas?

If charges are never filed, someone can seek expunction long before the statute of limitations expires, contingent upon how serious the charges are. The current waiting periods are 180 days for a Class C misdemeanor, one year for Class A and B misdemeanors, and three years for felony charges.

What is a warrant of arrest?

A "warrant of arrest" is a written order from a magistrate, directed to a peace officer or some other person specially named, commanding him to take the body of the person accused of an offense, to be dealt with according to law. Acts 1965, 59th Leg., vol. 2, p. 317, ch. 722.

Can a warrant of arrest be executed in another county?

When a warrant of arrest is issued by any mayor of an incorporated city or town, it cannot be executed in another county than the one in which it issues, except: 1. It be endorsed by a judge of a court of record, in which case it may be executed anywhere in the State; or. 2.

Can a defendant be rearrested for the same offense?

If a prosecution of a defendant is dismissed under Article 32.01, the defendant may be rearrested for the same criminal conduct alleged in the dismissed prosecution only upon presentation of indictment or information for the offense and the issuance of a capias subsequent to the indictment or information.

What is the Texas Family Code Section 54.02?

Birthdate, home address, personal phone number and name of any minor unless, under Texas Family Code Section 54.02, a juvenile court has waived its exclusive jurisdiction and transferred the individual to a district court. DL, SSN, passport number, tax ID number, and government issued ID number.

Can you file multiple cases in the same court?

Multiple cases, same defendant, located in the same court: Filings containing multiple cases for the same defendant are accepted as long as all of the cases are located within the same court. Filings containing multiple cases, same defendant, assigned to different courts will be sent back for correction.

What is a sealed document?

Sealed documents - Filer must bring into the court the motion and order to seal along with the document that needs to be sealed. Filer will present the paper documents to the judge for ruling. If the judge signs the order, the judge will hand the motion/order and document to the court clerk for processing.

What happens at arraignment in Texas?

Once the information has been filed, you will have an arraignment on your Texas criminal charges. This may happen in county court for misdemeanors or district court for felonies. At the arraignment, the judge will inform you of the charges and ask for a plea of guilty or not guilty. Because you have a criminal defense attorney, you likely won’t have to say much at the arraignment. You will nearly always plead not guilty at the arraignment, even if we eventually expect to plead guilty, we need time to work out a fair deal.

Can you plead reckless driving?

For example, if you are charged with DWI, we may be able to plead to reckless driving, instead . As your criminal defense lawyers, we will make recommendations, but the final decision will be yours.

What is statute of limitations?

Statutes of limitations establish time limits for starting criminal proceedings. The rules reflect society's wish to proceed with prosecutions while memories are fresh and evidence and witnesses are still available. Statutes of limitations generally start to "run" on the date that crimes are committed.

Can Larry be prosecuted for burglary?

However, the police misplace the report and, as a result, don't begin investigating the crime until many months later. By the time the police arrest Larry and the prosecutor is ready to begin criminal proceedings, the state's three-year statute of limitations on burglary has expired. As a result, Larry cannot be prosecuted for burglary. If the prosecutor were to begin criminal proceedings, Larry would be entitled to have the case dismissed.

What is the Sixth Amendment?

Statutes of limitations, which establish time limits for starting criminal proceedings, are distinguished from the Sixth Amendment right to a speedy trial, which applies to the length of time between the beginning of criminal proceedings and cases going to trial.

What is a felony in Texas?

What Is a Felony Indictment in Texas? In Texas, an indictment means you’re formally charged with a felony. This is different from an Information or a Complaint, both of which refer to ways to inform you of misdemeanor charges. When you get a Texas indictment, you know you’re being accused of a felony, and you’ll quickly find out what specific crime ...

Can you be present at an arraignment?

Unlike with an indictment, you’re not only present at the arraignment, but you also have a chance to respond to the charges. The arraignment can only happen after you either have charges filed against you or are issued an indictment.

What is the difference between an indictment and an arraignment in Texas?

What is the difference between arraignment and indictment in Texas? An arraignment varies from an indictment in a few ways. With an arraignment, you appear in court in front of a judge, who will read you the charges. Unlike with an indictment, you’re not only present at the arraignment, but you also have a chance to respond to the charges. The arraignment can only happen after you either have charges filed against you or are issued an indictment.

How long after arraignment is trial?

Your trial needs to begin no more than 180 days after your arrest.