If you’re dreading an upcoming legal case, one of the best potential outcomes is that the case is dismissed or dropped. If you’re not sure what that means, or you’re wondering about the difference between having charges dismissed vs. dropped, this article is for you.
While you’re reading up on how to get a case dismissed before trial, it may be wise to look for a Texas defense lawyer who can give you answers when it comes to your specific legal situation.
Can Charges Be Dropped Before Trial?
Can charges be dropped before court? They can. In fact, it’s not uncommon for a case to be dropped before it ever gets to trial. Sometimes that’s due to the prosecutor not having enough evidence, and other times it’s because you have a lawyer helping you negotiate.
Can a court case be dropped before trial? It’s more likely to happen when you have a good lawyer on your side. Houston federal criminal defense lawyer Seth Kretzer can help. Contact our office today to get started.
Can Felony Charges Be Dropped?
If you’ve been charged with a felony, you’re probably wondering – can felony charges be dropped? Fortunately, they can and sometimes are. However, there is not much you can do on your own to figure out how to get the charges dropped. It’s usually up to the prosecutor to decide this.
If you’re trying to discover how to get a prosecutor to drop charges, it’s time to talk to a criminal defense lawyer to learn how to improve the chances of this happening.
Can a Victim Drop Criminal Charges?
If you’re thinking about how to get charges dropped before a court date, you might be curious if a victim can make this decision. Depending on the crime, it’s not entirely up to the victim to drop the charges. However, victims can ask the district attorney to drop the charges, and he or she can take the victim’s opinion into consideration.
Can a district attorney drop charges? Yes, he or she has the power to make this decision, but you can’t count on this happening.
Why Do Prosecutors Sometimes Choose Not to Prosecute Criminal Cases?
When do prosecutors drop cases? There are a few reasons this might occur. In some situations, the victim does not cooperate with the prosecutor, making it difficult for the case to move forward. You could also have a case dropped due to lack of evidence, which means the evidence against you isn’t strong enough to go to court.
It’s also possible the evidence against you was illegally obtained and therefore wouldn’t hold up in court. Your defense attorney may be able to uncover this situation and help get your charges dropped before trial.
Case Dismissed vs. Charges Dropped
If you’re not sure of the difference between having charges dropped and a criminal case dismissed, note that the outcome is about the same, but the method is slightly different.
In short, a prosecutor can drop charges before filing them. Once charges are filed, either the prosecutor or the judge can dismiss the case, but it’s too late to drop the charges.
How to Get a Criminal Case Dismissed Before Trial
Now it’s time to find out how to get a court case dismissed. In general, your lawyer can file a motion to dismiss the case for any compelling reason.
Case Dropped Due to Lack of Evidence
While learning how to get a criminal case dismissed, one of the most commonly sought out grounds is a lack of evidence against you. It might also turn out the evidence was illegally obtained. Either way, your lawyer can file a motion to dismiss based on these facts.
If Charges Are Dropped Are They Still on Your Record?
Even if you get your charges dropped, they will likely still appear on your record. Your record will note that the charges were dropped, but the entire legal incident won’t disappear completely.
If you need an experienced defense lawyer, contact The Law Offices of Seth Kretzer today.
