Pending Criminal Charges — Ask the Inmate
The period between arrest and conviction is one of the most uncertain and stressful phases of the entire criminal justice experience. Cases can drag on for months or years. Plea negotiations, pretrial hearings, continuances, and evidence reviews all happen while a person sits in county jail or on bail waiting for a resolution. This section covers how the pretrial process works, what the difference is between a felony and a misdemeanor, how plea deals are negotiated and what the risks are, what happens at a preliminary hearing versus a trial, how defense investigators can help build a case, and what families can do to support their loved one through the uncertainty of pending charges. The guidance here is written for families encountering the criminal justice system for the first time who need to understand what is happening without being overwhelmed by legal complexity. See also our sections on Law Questions and Legal Terms, Bail and Bond Questions, and Sentencing Questions.
You can ask your inmate. They always know what the deal is. Federal cases are harder to find information about unless you know the jurisdiction where the indictment stems. You have to find out where the inmate caught their charge and then go to the clerk of that District Court.
Read moreIf you know the county, you can contact the Clerk of the Court and file a request for information. This is where lawyers go to get their information.
Read moreThe federal charge would have to be adjudicated in District Court to know the outcome. The inmate will be held in their current location to serve out the remainder of their sentence. During the court proceedings, the inmate will be transferred to a county jail in the jurisdiction where the indictment was handed down to face the federal charges. The time they do counts toward their accrued time.
Read moreYes, if she actually hit someone and they died, she would be charged with manslaughter or worse. When she tried and missed, there was an "attempt"
Read moreIt means that a judge in some county in Indiana has signed a fugitive arrest warrant stemming from a Grand Jury Indictment. Normally, the Sheriff in Louisiana is notified or sees the warrant in the NCIC when booking him in and will "hold" the offender until the Indiana county people come to pick him up and transport him to an Indiana jail.
Read moreHe will have to go back to Copiah County and face the judge that signed that warrant from three years ago. We don't know why he was cited and for what reason, but you can be certain that the judge isn't going to be happy to see him again after giving some leniency that went unappreciated
Read moreThis sounds like attempted murder, which would be a very serious charge.
Read moreIf the case is still pending, and the warrant is currently in effect you will definitely be detained.
Read moreWe do not have pre-trial orders or court dates. We would advise calling the Dade County Clerk of the Court for the latest word on his case.
Read moreYou have to call the Clerk of the Court where the charges were filed. This is public information, this is where attorneys go to get the facts of the indictment, nature of the charges, etc.
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