what does nolle prosequi : all counts means? are all charges waived off from me?
Question Details: i was charged with theft which i did not do. but later after few hours in jail i was bailed for $1000. now my case is closed and it says nolle prosequi: all counts. what does that mean? am i innocent? or are there charges still on me?
Nolle Prosequi is Latin for "we shall no longer prosecute," which is a declaration made to the judge by a prosecutor in a criminal case (or by a plaintiff in a civil lawsuit) either before or during trial, meaning the case against the defendant is being dropped. The statement is an admission that the charges cannot be proved, that evidence has demonstrated either innocence or a fatal flaw in the prosecution's claim or the district attorney (State Attorney in Florida) has become convinced the accused is innocent.
Although I do not practice law in the State of Florida, here are my initial impressions. Nolle prosequi is a fancy latin term used in the legal context to describe a resolution of a criminal matter where the prosecution declines to prosecute. In other words, the charges are, for all practical purposes, "thrown out" when they are nolle'd. In rare circumstances, a nolle may be re-opened by the prosecution within a certain amount of time; however, I'd say that this would be highly unlikely in your situation. While a nolle may prevent you from filing a civil suit against the officer for false arrest, it is generally considered a favorable resolution of your criminal charges.
