Q: After I am charged, what’s next?

A: You will appear in District Court for your “First Appearance.” The District Court Judge will inform you of the charge against you and ask you if you want a court-appointed lawyer or if you want to hire your own lawyer. The Judge will then give you a new court date for you to appear in court with your attorney.

Q: How long does it typically take for a case to resolve?

A: The length of time it takes to resolve your case depends on many factors, including the seriousness of your charge and whether your case goes to trial. In general, the more serious the criminal charge, the longer the case will take to resolve.

Q: What is an expungement?

A: An expungement is a process that, in certain cases, allows the information regarding your arrest and criminal charge to be stricken from the public record. After a successful expungement, the fact that you were charged with a crime will not appear when a criminal background check is performed on you.

Q: What is a PJC?

A: A PJC stands for prayer for judgment continued. In some instances, even if you are convicted of a crime, an experienced attorney may be able to convince a judge not to enter a sentence but to enter a PJC. In this case, you usually pay a small fine and face no probation or jail time. Also, PJCs are usually not counted as criminal convictions.

Q: If I am arrested or detained, do I have to talk to the police?

A: NO! You have a constitutional right to refuse to answer questions that the police ask you. You have the right to have a lawyer with you before you answer any questions or make any statement. Contact the Driver Law Firm before you make any statement to the police.

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