what's the best way to explain to district attorney why charges should be filed

What happens when a case is filed with the district attorney?

This is called “prosecutorial discretion.”. As the Kansas Court of Appeals noted in State vs. Cope, the district attorney “has sole discretion to determine whom to charge, what charges to file and pursue, and what punishment to seek.”. Basically, the district attorney has the only say regarding whether to charge a defendant or not.

Can my attorney influence the Prosecutor’s decision to file charges?

Mar 29, 2022 · It is time for recently elected Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg to publicly explain why he suspended the grand jury presentation that focused on whether criminal charges should be brought ...

How does the Kansas district attorney decide what to charge?

Mar 28, 2022 · Cooley said the LAPD and the Los Angeles City prosecutors should pursue the case. Smith could be charged with simple misdemeanor battery, the former district attorney said. Former L.A. County DA ...

What is the difference between a district attorney and a prosecutor?

Aug 26, 2012 · It means that they are changing the charging document in some way. This means the charges are changing in some way, maybe add a charge, maybe dismiss a charge, maybe change the way a charge reads. If the changes affect a charge that either make a PH available or not available, then that may explain the other issue.

What do you think the number one reason factor the prosecution must consider before filing charges?

The Evidence A significant factor in deciding whether to file charges is the amount of evidence against you and the strength of that evidence. The more evidence there is against you, the better the situation is for the prosecutor. However, the type of evidence and its weight also matters.Oct 10, 2018

Why do prosecutors sometimes choose not to prosecute criminal cases?

No likelihood of success. Prosecutors may decline to press charges because they think it unlikely that a conviction will result. No matter what the prosecutor's personal feelings about the case, the prosecutor needs legally admissible evidence sufficient to prove the defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

What considerations influence the prosecutor's decision about whether to bring charges and what to charge?

21Prosecutors may legitimately consider any number of factors in making charging and plea-bargaining decisions. These factors include the strength of the evidence, the likelihood of conviction, the interest of the victim in prosecution, and the cost and complexity of the prosecution and trial17.

What factors do prosecutors consider in making a charging decision?

The decision to prosecute is based on the following factors:The sufficiency of the evidence linking the suspect to the offense.The seriousness of the offense.The size of the court's caseload.The need to conserve prosecutorial resources for more serious cases.The availability of alternatives to formal prosecution.More items...

What is a reason a prosecutor should decline to prosecute a charge?

A prosecutor may drop a criminal charge if it is determined that the evidence against the accused isn't strong enough. Or, perhaps new evidence is found which undercuts the prosecution's case against the defendant.

What is the most important factor in deciding whether to prosecute?

The most important factor in deciding whether to prosecute is: if there is sufficient evidence for conviction.

How could politics influence US Attorneys decisions to prosecute a case or not?

Political ambition. Political ambition may also influence prosecutors. Most prosecutors are elected officials, and many of them view their position as a stepping stone to higher office. Public opinion and important support groups often affect their decisions on charges.

What level of law enforcement shared responsibilities between counties and municipalities?

Local law enforcement is in charge of the detection, investigation, and prevention of crime within a specific municipality or county.Oct 26, 2021

What is the role of a district attorney?

The district attorney is the lawyer for the state that is solely responsible for bringing charges against a defendant using the process called prosecution. This begins the “lawsuit” portion of a criminal investigation, moving the matter largely to the courts rather than the police station.

What is an arrest warrant?

An arrest warrant is similar to a search warrant, but instead sets out a person that is to be brought into custody.

What happens when a suspect is charged?

Once charges are filed, the suspect officially “becomes” a defendant This may seem like a simply switch in wording, but it actually has very significant and real implications for the accused. Once a charge is filed, the options of eliminating the case are very few.

What happens if a district attorney files a complaint in Kansas?

Some may even pass away or suffer from failing memories. This process can hurt both the prosecution and defendant. Recognizing this, Kansas has adopted a statute of limitations for nearly all crimes. These serve as time limits upon when a district attorney may file a complaint for committing a crime. After the set number of years passes, the suspect will not be subject to prosecution.

What does preliminary hearing mean in a felony?

It means they've found new things they want to charge you with. On all felonies there is a preliminary hearing unless the DA goes to the Grand Jury for an indictment.

Can a charge be amended without the court's permission?

An amended complaint will change the charge in some way, but they must have the court's permission. Setting the case for a preliminary (probable cause) hearing is normal whether or not the charges are amended. It is often unwise to oppose an amended complaint because if the court does not allow it, the prosecutor will just dismiss the charge and refile the new one *without the court's permission*. That may cause a new warrant to be issued and the defendant to have to post a new bond.

What does the DA think of additional charges?

Sometimes the DA thinks that with further investigation additional charges will show up. In a case like the one you asked about the DA is giving notice to the court and the defendant that additional charges or counts will be filed against the defendant. When a person is arrested for a crime he has a number of days before his preliminary hearing has to be held. To make this go past that time the defendant has to make a time waver. It seems from the facts given that the DA will not have all the charges ready by the time of the prelim.

What does "change charge" mean?

It means that they are changing the charging document in some way. This means the charges are changing in some way, maybe add a charge, maybe dismiss a charge, maybe change the way a charge reads. If the changes affect a charge that either make a PH available or not available, then that may explain the other issue.

Why is it important to retain a criminal defense attorney?

2. Arrest and Police Report. Oftentimes, a police officer makes a physical arrest of the accused and takes him or her to jail without an initial investigation.

What to do if you are being accused of a crime?

If you are being accused of a crime, it is important for you to understand the process leading to charges being filed against you. This process can happen in one of two ways: 1. Pre-filing Investigation. An experienced Wallin & Klarich attorney may help you avoid facing any criminal charges.

What happens when a police officer gathers evidence?

Once the police officer has gathered sufficient evidence, he or she will meet with the prosecutor and present all of the evidence that the officer has obtained, including physical evidence, statements from witnesses, or even your own statements. The officer may recommend certain charges, but only the prosecutor has the power to formally file ...

What happens if you are arrested?

If you are arrested, or think you may be arrested, any delay in retaining an attorney to defend you will put you at a significant disadvantage. Oftentimes, your attorney can have the most impact on the outcome of your case before the decision to file has been made. You should hire a skilled defense attorney right away.

How long is the statute of limitations for a felony?

For felony offenses, the statute of limitations is three years; or. With certain felony offenses, there is a longer statute of limitations. There is usually a gap between the time the police officer generates the police report and the time the prosecutor makes their filing decision. It is during this gap in time that your attorney is able ...

Matthew Murillo

The other attorneys are both correct, the Arraignment on the citation is the date you are to appear in Court. The District Attorney sometimes files a charges well before that date, sometimes they file a couple of days before that date.

Michael Rutledge Norton

Your best and safest bet is to appear for court on the day of your arraignment. If it is not filed be sure to get something time stamped to prove you appeared. You can call the DA or have an attorney call but I have seen SB file charges up to a few days before the scheduled arraignment.

Brian Andrew Bezonsky

It is relatively simple for a lawyer to call the DA's office with the pertinent information to determine if the case has yet been filed.#N#Be aware that most DA's offices (including SBD County) don't get around to filing charges until a week or less than a week before your given court date. They're busy.