Charged with a felony in DC Superior Court

Website design By BotEap.comSo you’ve been charged with a felony in DC Superior Court. What happens next?

Website design By BotEap.comThe DC Superior Court operates much like the federal jurisdiction and the bail laws are very similar to the bail laws of the Federal Courts. There are a multitude of holds that can be placed on an individual going through the criminal justice system with a felony.

Website design By BotEap.comarrangement

Website design By BotEap.comIn the District of Columbia, if you are arrested for a felony that is not an original grand jury, you will see a judge within 48 hours, most often within 24 hours. In DC this is called filing and you are charged per complaint. Your attorney will waive the formal arraignment and request a preliminary hearing. The judge in the arraignment court, also known as courtroom C10, will determine whether to retain you or release you on parole. Whether you are detained is based on a number of factors, such as whether you are on probation, probation, or have a pending case. If you are on probation, probation, or have a pending case, you could be detained for 5 days; and subsequently, he will have his preliminary hearing and/or detention hearing. If he is accused of a violent and dangerous crime, or if he did not appear in court frequently, he could be detained for 3 days; and subsequently, have a preliminary hearing and/or detention hearing.

Website design By BotEap.compreliminary hearing

Website design By BotEap.comAfter the arraignment, you will have your preliminary hearing usually before a magistrate judge in the DC Superior Court. There are two issues at the preliminary hearing and/or detention hearing that will be paramount to you.

Website design By BotEap.com(1) Is there probable cause that you committed the crime?

Website design By BotEap.com(2) If there is probable cause, should I be released?

Website design By BotEap.comAt this time, you will need an experienced attorney to properly air all the facts and your ties to the community for your release.

Website design By BotEap.comAfter the preliminary hearing, the case will be pending for the grand jury to determine whether there is probable cause that he committed the crime.

Website design By BotEap.comgrand jury

Website design By BotEap.comThe Fifth Amendment guarantees that no person will be prosecuted for “a capital or otherwise infamous crime” unless indicted by a grand jury. Court rules and DC Code require a grand jury to consider evidence for any crime that carries a potential penalty of more than one year. Therefore, all felony cases must go before a grand jury unless the defendant waives the right to indictment. The grand jury may consist of sixteen to twenty-three members. Twelve or more jurors must agree to return an indictment.

Website design By BotEap.comstatus hearing

Website design By BotEap.comIf you are held after the detention hearing, the court will schedule a status hearing usually within 30 days to determine the position of the case with the Grand Jury. Also at this time, the court may ask if plea negotiations are taking place. Remember that your attorney has a duty to investigate, consult, and prepare your case so that you can make an informed decision whether to plead guilty or go to trial. You have an absolute right to know if a guilty plea has been offered.

Website design By BotEap.comtrial by jury

Website design By BotEap.comIf you do not accept the government’s plea offer, you will have a jury trial in which twelve members of your community will decide beyond a reasonable doubt whether you committed the crime.

Website design By BotEap.comjudgment

Website design By BotEap.comIf you lose the trial or plead guilty, you will have a sentencing hearing within 2 months. The reason it takes months is because the court does a pre-sentence investigation where a probation officer makes a recommendation to the court as to what sentence he should receive based on background and social information. Your lawyer at this time can present letters of character and other elements that demonstrate his good character.

Website design By BotEap.comThis has been a simplistic explanation of a felony through the DC Superior Court, but please note that this is a rough outline and you should seek out an experienced attorney to guide you through this process.