What happens if charges are dropped on a felony?

Get Legal Help Today

Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save

secured lock Secured with SHA-256 Encryption

What happens if charges are dropped on a felony?

My husband got arrested for receiving stolen firearms. He is out on bond. The investigators pushed him into saying he stole them but he didn’t. The people are not pressing charges but he still has to check in every 2 months until his court date. Why does he have to go to court and check in as if he is getting a felony if no charges are being filed?

Asked on January 10, 2012 under Criminal Law, Mississippi

Answers:

B.H.F., Member, Texas State Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney

Answered 12 years ago | Contributor

A law enforcement agency or the prosecutor's office will decide which charges to file, or not to file.  Many times they will take into consideration the wishes of the victims, but they can still decide to file a case over the objection of the victim.  This is what is referred to as the "state picking up the case."  If the state or prosecutor is going to accept the case, they must file it before the statute of limitations runs.  Misdemeanors must usually be filed within two years.  Lower-end felonies are required to be filed in three years.  Higher-end felonies have no statute of limitations.  Until the state decides to dismiss or file the charges or until the statute of limitations has run, your husband will be required to report to a bondsman in order to remain free while these decisions are being made.  If an extensive period of time has passed, your husband may want to hire an attorney to file a writ to discharge the bond because of the delay and the financial expense. 


IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.

Get Legal Help Today

Find the right lawyer for your legal issue.

secured lock Secured with SHA-256 Encryption