what does it mean when you get a letter from the district attorney

• You are being notified of criminal charges and need to appear in court
• You are the victim of a crime and they desire your input
• Similarly, the prosecutor wants to know if you are seeking restitution
• The prosecutor believes you witnessed a crime and they desire to speak with you

Full Answer

Why would the district attorney's office Send Me a letter?

Why is the district attorney sending me mail? As a point of process, a number of lawyers noted that the district attorney's office will send a letter to inform a person that the DA is moving ahead and filing charges against that person. Why would the US Department of Justice sent me a certified letter?

How do I contact the district attorney for a criminal case?

If you are looking for the specific attorney handling your case, it is best to email or call the county or city court clerk to find this information. Use the correct form of address. For best results, you will want to write a formal letter and address the district attorney appropriately. Keep your letter short and formal.

What can I write to the district attorney?

Anything you write to the district attorney may be admissible as evidence in your case. Accordingly, your lawyer should handle all communication with the prosecution. Know that all states have freedom of information laws that allow you to request public records, including trial records held by district attorneys.

How do I find the district attorney for a traffic ticket?

You can call or email the clerk of the court for the county or city where you received your ticket to discover the District Attorney for your case. Obtain your driving record abstract or motor vehicle report.

Why would an attorney send me a letter?

The letter informs the party you are suing that they have been retained as counsel or representative of the party who is suing (you). It gives the other party the contact details of the lawyer so that communication between them will be easier.

What is a target letter from DA?

According to the law of the United States, a person receives a target letter when a U.S. attorney has "substantial evidence linking him or her to the commission of a crime". The same legal technique may be used by county prosecutors in some jurisdictions.

Why do prosecutors send target letters?

Prosecutors use target letters mainly to encourage unrepresented targets to retain counsel and begin plea or cooperation discussions. For the most part, prosecutors do not expect targets to testify even if subpoenaed.

Who gets a target letter?

A target letter is the means by which the federal government informs individuals that they are targets for criminal prosecution. In the simplest terms, it means the federal prosecutor believes the recipient has committed a crime.

Why would I get a letter from the United States District Court?

Receiving a certified letter from a court official means that the court has communicated with you concerning whichever legal issue is relevant. Courts can use written missives to communicate with you for several reasons; usually they take the form of an order or summons to appear before a judge.

How do you know if the feds are investigating you?

Probably the second most common way people learn that they're under federal investigation is when the police execute a search warrant at the person's house or office. If the police come into your house and execute a search warrant, then you know that you are under investigation.

How long can the Feds target someone?

For most federal crimes, the statute of limitations is five years. Bank fraud has a statute of limitations of ten years. Immigration violations and arson are also subject to a ten year limit. Kidnapping also has a limit of ten years, or the child's lifetime, whichever is longer.

What does it mean to be a target of an investigation?

The term “target of an investigation” is also specifically defined by the DOJ. A “target” is a person to whom the prosecutor or Grand Jury has substantial evidence linking him or her to the commission of a crime and who, in the judgment of the prosecutor, is a putative defend-ant.

What is the difference between a subject and a target of an investigation?

Thus, someone identified as a target is much more likely to take an adversarial posture toward investigators, asserting their Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination and refusing to cooperate. A “subject” sits between a witness and a target.

Why would someone get a letter from the Department of Defense?

During a criminal investigation for a federal offense, a suspect could receive a letter informing them they are the “target” in a criminal investigation. These type of letters are common in the investigation of white collar crimes, but are also used for other types of crimes, such as federal drug offenses.

Will FBI send you a letter?

The FBI does not send unsolicited e-mails/letters. Consumers should not respond to any unsolicited e-mails/letters requesting personal information or money.

How do I write a letter to the Department of Justice?

The address to send a formal letter to the US Attorney General is: US Department of Justice/950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW/Washington, DC 20530-0001.

What is a target notice?

As its name suggests, a target letter is a notice from the U.S. Department of Justice or a federal prosecutor that you are the target of a criminal investigation. Target letters contain information on the crime being investigated, and they include instructions on what they expect you to do next.

What is a target in a criminal investigation?

According to the United States Department of Justice, a target of a federal criminal investigation is a person as to whom the prosecutor or the federal grand jury has substantial evidence linking him or her to the commission of a crime and who, in the judgment of the prosecutor, is considered to be a defendant.

Why would I receive a certified letter from the Department of Justice?

They are a means of letting the recipient know that they are the target of an investigation by the federal government. In other words, the prosecutor or federal agent has reason to believe that the individual has committed some type of crime.

What is a target in a criminal probe?

A “target” of a criminal investigation is a person against whom the prosecutor and law enforcement are working to obtain formal charges, that is, an Indictment.

What is a target letter for an attorney?

Letters from the U.S. Attorney’s Office often include explanatory instructions for how the recipient should respond to the letter . Target letters will typically give information about how the targets may contact the Assistant U.S. Attorney assigned to their cases. Investigative letters usually contain instructions about how to properly respond to their production requests. Such directions may include the types of formats that electronic files may be produced in or how the files should be labeled. The instructions may also ask recipients to include a cover letter with their productions and explain what details are included in said cover letter. Most letters will include a section labeled “Definitions” that instructs the recipient about how to interpret keywords within the text of the requests.

What is a target letter?

Another type of letter that can be issued from the United States Attorney’s Office is a “target letter.”. Target letters inform the recipients that they are the target of a federal investigation, which means that the government intends to press civil or criminal charges against that person.

What do federal prosecutors do?

Usually, federal agents will handle investigative tasks, such as interviewing witnesses or executing search warrants, and then the United States Attorney’s Office will rely on those investigative efforts of the federal agents to build a case for trial.

What is a business records affidavit?

The Business Records Affidavit is a legal mechanism through which the recipient authenticates the documents provided for use in future legal proceedings. By signing the Business Records Affidavit and having it notarized, the recipient attests that the documents provided are true and correct copies of the original documents and that the documents are kept in the normal course of business.

Why do federal prosecutors resemble sharks?

Federal prosecutors sometimes resemble sharks, because they are frequently unwilling to abandon even fruitless investigations unless they draw some blood. Fortunately, we know how to handle these types–– in fact, many of our clients have been shocked to learn that their investigations have been closed with zero civil or criminal liability. Still, others have been pleasantly surprised when what was once an existential threat is transformed into a manageable inconvenience.

What is the criminal division?

The criminal division prosecutes criminal cases. While most criminal cases are handled in state courts rather than in federal courts, the types of criminal cases prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office include white collar fraud, Medicare fraud, drug trafficking, tax evasion, and immigration crimes.

What is the federal law on subpoenas?

Federal law limits the types of requests that the U.S. Attorney’s Office can make and the scope of the documentation that it can request. Nevertheless, the requests contained in civil investigative demands and grand jury subpoenas often exceed the appropriate boundaries of what can be asked for.

Why do you write a letter to the District Attorney?

There are many reasons for writing a letter to the District Attorney (DA). Whatever your reason, you’ll want to draft a formal, respectful letter to give your inquiry the best chance of success. You’ll also want to include all the information necessary to support your inquiry, whether it involves a trial, reporting a crime, or dealing with a traffic ticket.

How to find out if a district attorney is a district attorney?

1. Look up the correct address online or call the county court. An online search including “district attorney” and the county or city name will almost always turn up an email and physical address. Alternately, you can call or visit the country or city court to request this information. If you are looking for the specific attorney handling your ...

How to find the district attorney for a ticket?

Find the name and address of the District Attorney handling your case. You can call or email the clerk of the court for the county or city where you received your ticket to discover the District Attorney for your case.

How to communicate during a trial?

During the course of a trial, you may need to send written statements or other information to the district attorney, or ask questions. Do not write the district attorney if you are the defendant in a criminal case.

How to write a letter to a victim?

Keep your letter short and formal. Make your letter as brief as possible while still including all the required information. Even if you are upset – e.g. you are a victim writing because our case is not being prosecuted – try to keep you letter formal and respectful. This is the best way to ensure a positive response.

How to find a lawyer for a case?

If you are looking for the specific attorney handling your case, it is best to email or call the county or city court clerk to find this information.

What to do if the government doesn't turn over records?

If the government fails to turn over records, the next step is usually to contact the local district attorney to lodge a criminal complaint.