| Answers to Frequently
Asked Questions |
| Can I drop charges if I
was the victim in an assault case? |
|
You can request that the charges be dropped. After the individual
is arrested on criminal charges and has bonded out, the proper
procedure is to come to our office and sign an Affidavit of
Non-prosecution and give a statement (you need to bring a picture
ID). The prosecutor will then make a decision of whether to
proceed with the assault case or not.
|
| Will I have to go to
jail on my criminal case? |
| This depends on a variety of
things--the nature of the charge, damages, criminal history, etc.
Most cases in our court involve probation initially. On arraignment
day, each case is reviewed by a prosecutor who will state his plea
bargain offer. If you do not agree to accept that offer, you will be
given a reset in order for you to consult an attorney. |
| Do I have to pay the
money on my criminal case all at once or can I pay it out? |
| The Judge asks that court costs
be paid up front on the day you plead. Bring $300.00 to cover court costs on arraignment day.
Fine, restitution and probationary fees
will be paid monthly while on probation. |
| What is an
arraignment? |
| An arraignment is when the
defendant appears in court to enter a plea on his criminal case. You
may also discuss your case with a prosecutor on that day. |
| Do I need an
attorney? |
| You always have the right to be
represented by an attorney. However, if you wish to plead guilty or
nolo contendere on your criminal case, you may speak to a prosecutor
about a plea bargain offer. If you accept that offer, you may
proceed without an attorney. If you wish to plead not guilty or feel
there is a problem with your case, you may consult an attorney at
any time prior to your case being disposed of. |
| How can I get a court-
appointed attorney in my criminal case? |
| On your arraignment day, you
should inform the Judge that you are unable to afford an attorney and
wish one to be appointed for you. You must fill out the required
forms and the Judge will make a decision whether you are indigent
and then appoint an attorney. |
| What is a FTA? |
| A Failure to Appear is a Class
"A" misdemeanor which alleges a defendant failed to appear in court
after he had signed a bond which stated he would appear in court on
a certain date and each date thereafter set by the court. A warrant
is then issued for their arrest to bring the defendant back before
the court on that charge as well as the original charge. |
| Can I set up a payment
plan on my hot checks? |
| Our office does not have the
resources to take partial payments on all check cases. Each case is
considered on a case by case basis. If you are unable to pay the
amount in full, you must contact our hot check department to work
with them on paying the checks in some manner. Failure to stay in
contact with that department can result in a warrant being issued
for your arrest. |
| Can I get a protective
order on my neighbor or an individual who is harassing me who is not
a relative, a member or former member of my household, or an
individual in a dating relationship? |
| No, protective orders are only
granted in domestic or dating violence situations which involve a
threat of imminent bodily injury. |
| Can I file charges with
the County Attorney's office? |
| The County Attorney's office
handles the prosecution of cases after an arrest has been made. Only
hot check cases and a few other cases are filed in our office. In
most cases, you must contact your local law enforcement agency to
file charges. |
| Is there a leash law in
Liberty County? |
| There is no current leash law
in effect in Liberty County. Some incorporated cities in Liberty
County do have leash laws. |
| Where do I complain
about the condition of my county road? |
| You must contact the
Commissioner of the precinct in which you reside. |
| Can the County
Attorney's office settle a land dispute between neighbors? |
| No, this is a civil suit which
will be handled in a district court ordinarily and a private
attorney is usually contacted. |
