How do I find out if the state picked up my charges or if the victim pressed them?
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How do I find out if the state picked up my charges or if the victim pressed them?
Asked on September 12, 2015 under Criminal Law, Florida
Answers:
B.H.F., Member, Texas State Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 8 years ago | Contributor
You start the process by confirming that the charges have actually been accepted and filed. To do this, you would want to contact the clerk of the court where your case happened. Ask for copies of any documents that have been filed regarding your case.
Once your case is filed, you can request basic discovery or information about your case. Some prosecutors will give this information as a matter of practice, while others will require you to file a written request. Once you have the discovery, it will usually give an indicator on who was pushing the charges.
You can attempt to contact the victim directly... but this comes with some risks. The first is that the victim could report that you were pressuring them to drop the charges. The second is that it may result in a violation of your bond conditions--if you have a condition that prohibits contact with the victim. The better practice is to simply get the documents that tell you more of what went down and how.
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