Criminal Defense

What Does It Mean When a Charge Is Dropped?

July 12, 2022 by Mikel Rastegar in Criminal Defense  
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Flawless Victory

If criminal charges are dropped, there will be no trial, and no repercussions will be imposed for the alleged offense.

If you are convicted and charged with a crime, the arresting officer will provide the prosecutor with information on your case. The prosecutor is also responsible for deciding whether or not to pursue charges against you and initiating formal legal actions against you if they so choose. If the prosecutor believes you are guilty, they should evaluate if there is substantial proof.

In most cases, criminal charges are dropped because the prosecutor or arresting officer feels there is insufficient evidence or because the facts of the case are inaccurate. If a prosecutor decides not to press criminal charges against you following an arrest, your case will likely be dropped. When a case is brought, the prosecutor has the option of dropping charges if fresh evidence is found that justifies doing so.

Individuals accused of a crime frequently believe they can persuade their accuser to dismiss the accusations against them. However, Victims of crimes cannot retract their statements of blame, which might result in further charges being brought against them. To be charged with a crime in California is to face legal action from the state.

Prosecutors are government attorneys who file criminal charges. After charges have been brought, only a prosecutor has the authority to “drop” them, regardless of whether the judge or jury decides to do so. To what extent the prosecution agrees with the accuser’s request to drop the charges is up for debate. New criminal charges may be filed against the accused if this individual concludes that the complainant was threatened or pressured by the accused.

Talk to the courthouse’s criminal division or prosecutor to determine if the charges were dropped. Even though it is common knowledge, a professional may be able to speed up and smooth out the conversation. If you are unsure if your charges have been dropped, you should not call the prosecuting authorities yourself. When you want to know something, you can say anything that could be used against you.

Have your attorney check to see if the charges against you were dropped.

Why Victims Drop Charges

A victim may decide not to testify against a defendant for several reasons, including:

  • The offender may frighten the victim.
  • The victim may adore the suspect and wish to remain friends. This mostly happens in domestic violence cases.
  • The victim may realize they picked the incorrect individual.

A victim who alters their statement might be charged with submitting a false police complaint. If so, they should seek a criminal defense counsel to avoid accusations.

Why Prosecutors Drop Charges

There are various reasons prosecutors drop a case. Some of the common reasons include:

  • When a criminal case’s central victim refuses to cooperate. The complainant may have changed their mind; therefore, prosecuting without additional proof is futile.
  • Weak or insufficient evidence. If the evidence is weak, a prosecuting attorney may drop the charges. Or if fresh evidence undermines the prosecution’s suit against the accused.
  • Fourth Amendment breaches. Law enforcement under the Fourth Amendment shields citizens from warrantless searches and seizures. Evidence obtained dishonestly must be thrown out. The prosecution may drop a criminal charge if they determine that the evidence against the defendant was obtained improperly. An experienced defense attorney can determine whether or not the lack of a warrant prevented police from legally searching for evidence. Evidence collected without a warrant cannot be used in court and may result in the dismissal of criminal charges.
  • Procedures. When arresting, booking, questioning, scheduling a bail hearing, or conducting pretrial operations, police and prosecutors must follow precise processes. These procedural flaws may lead to a case drop or sentence reduction if a defendant’s rights are infringed. These concerns might be intricate. Therefore, choose a qualified defense attorney.
  • Insufficient resources. Prosecutors and district attorneys typically have too many cases. They may have to prioritize some cases while dropping smaller offenses. This is more likely if you’ve never been convicted of a crime.
  • Cooperativeness. Your attorney may be able to urge prosecutors to lessen your penalty or drop your case if you’re prepared to help solve other crimes or assist in other ways.

Contact a Criminal Defense Lawyer

Criminal Defense Attorneys are essential tools in the field of criminal defense and act as a protection against abuses of constitutional rights that are done by people who are in positions of authority.

Need an Attorney? CALL NOW: 310-274-6529

Seppi Esfandi is an Expert Attorney who has over 21 years of practice defending a variety of cases.

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Lara S.
December 3, 2019
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Seppi had my case reduced to just an infraction, and thanks to him I was able to keep my job. Jorge was extremely helpful too, the reason I went with this law firm. Overall pleased.

How to Win Your Case

We cannot stress enough that you read, understand and follow these 10 basic rules if you are criminally charged or under investigation:

  1. Don’t ever talk to the police
  2. Do not discuss your case with anyone
  3. Everything you tell your lawyer is confidential
  4. Tell police you need to contact your attorney
  5. Never consent to any search by the police
  6. If the police knock on your door, don't answer!
  7. Realize the consequences of a criminal conviction
  8. Your lawyer (not you) will contact any witnesses
  9. Information on your cell phone is evidence
  10. Early Intervention is the key

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