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OUT OF COUNTY PROCESS. GOALS OF THIS SESSIONONETO FAMILIARIZE YOU WITH THE LEGAL AND PROCEDURAL REQUIREMENT FOR HANDLING OUT OF COUNTY TWOTO IDENTIFY PROBLEMS FOR THE SYSTEM AND ISSUES FOR JUDGSTHREETO ENCOURAGE COOPERATIVE LOCAL PROBLEM SOLVING AND OFFER TRAINING. GOAL ONE - LEGAL AND PROCE
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2. OUT OF COUNTY PROCESS GOALS OF THIS SESSION
ONE
TO FAMILIARIZE YOU WITH THE LEGAL AND PROCEDURAL REQUIREMENT FOR HANDLING OUT OF COUNTY
TWO
TO IDENTIFY PROBLEMS FOR THE SYSTEM AND ISSUES FOR JUDGS
THREE
TO ENCOURAGE COOPERATIVE LOCAL PROBLEM SOLVING AND OFFER TRAINING
3. GOAL ONE - LEGAL AND PROCEDURAL REQUIREMENTS INTRODUCTION
THE SITUATION
Defendant is charged in one county
Paper process issued in that county
Process in possession of law enforcement agency in that county
Defendant arrested in another county
Arresting officer does not have original or copy of process in his/her possession at time of arrest
OFFICER knows warrant has been issued in the other county
4. INTRODUCTION (Continued) DISTINGUISH PAPERLESS ARREST FROM WARRANTLESS ARREST
This situation is a PAPERLESS ARREST, not a warrantless arrest.
A warrant or other process has been issued
It is just not in the possession of the officer who made the arrest
But the officer knew that the warrant had been issued
G.S. 15A-401(a)(2) authorizes paperless arrest
A warrantless arrest is when no warrant has ever been issued, and the officer’s arrest is based his/her personal observation or knowledge of facts constituting probable cause.
5. INTRODUCTION (Continued) CLARIFY TERMS
ORIGINATING COUNTY
COUNTY WHERE CHARGES PENDING
COUNTY OF ARREST
COUNTY WHERE DEFENDANT ARRESTED
PROCESS INCLUDES
WARRANT
ORDER FOR ARREST
CRIMINAL SUMMONS
6. INTRODUCTION (Continued) CLARIFY MORE TERMS
ORIGINAL INCLUDES
INK-OR COMPUTER-SIGNED PAPER ORIGINAL ISSUED IN ORIGINATING COUNTY
WHAT IS PRINTED OUT BY A FAX MACHINE IN COUNTY OF ARREST
WHAT IS PRINTED OUT IN COUNTY OF ARREST USING MAGISTRATES’ SYSTEM
INITIATING LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY
THE AGENCY THAT SWORE OUT THE PROCESS IN THE ORIGINATING COUNTY
7. STEPS IN COUNTY OF ARREST 1. VERIFY THAT PROCESS IS STILL OUTSTANDING
2. CONDUCT INITIAL APPEARANCE
3. RELEASE DEFENDANT WHEN CONDITIONS OF RELEASE ARE MET
4. OFFICER SERVES DEFENDANT AND ENTERS RETURN ON ORIGINAL
5. NOTIFY ORIGINATING COUNTY THAT DEFENDANT WAS ARRESTED, RECALL PROCESS AND RETURN ALL PAPERWORK TO ORIGINATING COUNTY
6. SHERIFF TRANSFERS DEFENDANT TO ORIGINATING COUNTY
8. STEP 1-VERIFY THAT PROCESS IS STILL OUTSTANDING Outstanding means
Process not already served
Process not recalled
Charges not disposed
Prosecutor still wants to prosecute
Undisposed charges
VDWL charges
Why is this a problem?
DCI messages often stale
Law enforcement agencies and agencies do not necessarily update
9. STEP 1 - VERIFY THAT PROCESS IS STILL OUTSTANDING (Continued) Verification is responsibility of arresting officer/agency in county of arrest
Judicial official conducting initial appearance must:
Be sure arresting officer/agency has verified that process is outstanding, or
Do it yourself
FAILURE TO VERIFY RISKS CONFIRMING FALSE ARREST !!
10. STEP 2 - CONDUCT INITIAL APPEARANCE OBTAIN ORIGINAL PROCESS FROM ORIGINATING COUNTY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE
SOURCES:
FAX
MAGISTRATES’ SYSTEM
PHYSICAL DELIVERY OF PAPER ORIGINAL
11. STEP 2 - CONDUCT INITIAL APPEARANCE (Continued) PROMPTLY SET CONDITIONS OF PRETRIAL RELEASE
JUDICIAL OFFICIAL MUST SET CONDITIONS OF PRETRIAL RELEASE AND ENTER RELEASE ORDER AS SOON AS ENOUGH INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE
IT IS NEVER PERMISSIBLE TO DELAY ENTERING RELEASE ORDER FOR NO REASON OTHER THAT TO WAIT FOR ORIGINAL TO BE RECEIVED
12. STEP 2 - CONDUCT INITIAL APPEARANCE (Continued) SET COURT DATE IN ORIGINATING COUNTY
IF OFA, DATE IN OFA
MISDEMEANOR, CHARGING OFFICER’S NEXT COURT DATE
IF FELONY,
CHARGED IN WARRANT, NEXT SESSION OF DISTRICT COURT
CHARGED IN INDICTMENT AND OFA, NEXT SESSION OF SUPERIOR COURT
13. STEP 2 - CONDUCT INITIAL APPEARANCE (Continued) NOTIFY ORIGINATING COUNTY OF COURT DATE
Do this immediately
Use any effective means
E-mail
Fax release order
Phone call
Do not wait until all paper is ready to be returned
14. STEP 3 - RELEASE DEFENDANT WHEN CONDITIONS ARE MET WHEN DEFENDANT SATISFIES CONDITIONS OF PRETRIAL RELEASE
Defendant must be released IMMEDIATELY
Whether or not copy of process has been received or served
Do not wait for original to be received to release defendant
When original received, a law enforcement officer must find the defendant later and serve a copy
Failure to serve is grounds for continuance
15. STEP 4 - OFFICER SERVES DEFENDANT AND ENTERS RETURN ORIGINAL Reminder – the original will now be what is printed by fax machine or the magistrates’ system
Officer copies this original and gives the copy to the defendant
If defendant still in custody, the copy is served then
If the defendant has been released, the OFFICER must find the defendant later and serve copy
Officer enters return on the original
16. STEP 5 - NOTIFY ORIGINATING COUNTY THAT DEFENDANT WAS ARRESTED, RECALL PROCESS and RETURN PAPERWORK TO ORIGINATING COUNTY Notify promptly to avoid second arrest of defendant
Notify both initiating agency and clerk
Use any effective means
Return paperwork promptly so judge it is in shuck by court date
Clerk and magistrate should work out respective responsibilities
17. STEP 5 - NOTIFY ORIGINATING COUNTY THAT DEFENDANT WAS ARRESTED, RECALL PROCESS and RETURN PAPERWORK TO ORIGINATING COUNTY (Continued) If defendant has not been released, return the following
Original process bearing Officer’s return
Copy of Release Order
If defendant has been released, return the following:
Original process bearing Officer’s return
Original Release Order, with release date entered on Side Two
Original Criminal Appearance Bond, if any
18. STEP 6 - SHERIFF TRANSFERS DEFENDANT TO ORIGINATING COUNTY Defendant who is not released from jail must be transported to originating county
Needs to arrive before court date
This avoids unnecessary FTA
This is the Sheriff’s responsibility
Do all you can to assure sheriff does this.
19. STEPS IN ORIGINATING COUNTY 1. INITIATING AGENCY RETURNS ITS ORIGINAL PROCESS TO CLERK IMMEDIATELY FAXING IT TO COUNTY OF ARREST
2. CLERK PLACES THIS ORIGINAL PROCESSIN COURT FILE
3. CLERK RECEIVES NOTICE OF COURT DATE FROM COUNTY OF ARREST AND ADDS TO CALENDAR; RECALLS PROCESS FROM INITIATING AGENCY IF NECESSARY
20. STEPS IN ORIGINATING COUNTY (Continued) 4. CLERK RECEIVES PAPERWORK FROM COUNTY OF ARREST AND PLACES IN COURT FILE
5. FILE SHOULD CONTAIN
Original process as issued in originating county
Duplicate original generated in county of arrest, with officer’s return completed
If defendant released in county of arrest
Original release order
Original bond
If defendant not released in county of arrest
Copy of release order
21. GOAL TWO – IDENTIFY PROBLEMS AND ISSUES – COUNTY OF ARREST What could go wrong on your end
Magistrate may hold defendant too long without setting conditions of pretrial release
Jail may hold defendant too long after defendant makes bail
Bail may be too high
Even properly held defendant may remain in your jail through his/her court date in the originating county
Defendant may never be bought to court in your county, even if still in your local jail
Magistrate/Clerk may fail to notify originating county of defendant’s court date or to forward paperwork
Magistrate/Clerk may assign unavailable court date
22. GOAL TWO – IDENTIFY PROBLEMS AND ISSUES – COUNTY OF ARREST Practical consequences
Adds to local jail overcrowding
Your County incurs unnecessary expense in housing prisoners not even facing changes in your county
Defendant’s rights violated in your county
Defendant fails to appear on court date in originating county
Defendant’s case not calendared in originating county or calendared on unavailable date
23. GOAL TWO – IDENTIFY PROBLEMS AND ISSUES – COUNTY OF ARREST Options for Presiding Judge
If defendant is brought to court with all other prisoners in jail for first court appearance
Make sure there is a release order, and defendant has not posted required bail
Review charges and release order
Reduce bail on own motion or recommendation of jailer of prosecutor, if appropriate
Consider appointing local attorney just to advocate for reduction in bail
Encourage your jailer to get the sheriff of the originating county to pick up defendant, ASAP
If defendant not brought from jail with other prisoners facing in-county charges
Not much
24. GOAL TWO – IDENTIFY PROBLEMS AND ISSUES – COUNTY OF ARREST Cooperative Problem Solving
Work with sheriff to be sure all prisoners are brought to court, including those in custody on out of county charges, both felony or misdemeanor charges
Encourage Jailer to do all possible to have sheriffs of originating counties come pick up prisoners ASAP
Set up training session (Goal Three)
25. GOAL TWO – IDENTIFY PROBLEMS AND ISSUES – ORIGINATING COUNTY What could go wrong on your end
DEFENDANT FAILS TO APPEAR ON COURT DATE BECAUSE STILL IN JAIL IN THE COUNTY OF ARREST
DEFENDANT IS RELEASED AND APPEARS ON COURT DATE, BUT CASE IS NOT ON CALENDAR BECAUSE COUNTY OF ARREST HAS NOT NOTIFIED OF COURT DATE OR FORWARDED PAPERWORK
CASE CALENDARED FOR DATE OTHER THAT IN DEFENDANT’S RELEASE ORDER, DEFENDANT FAILS TO APPEAR ON THAT DATE AND IS FTA’D
DEFENDANT ARRESTED A SECOND TIME ON THE ORIGINAL PROCESS BECAUSE IT IS NOT RETURNED TO THE CLERK
26. GOAL TWO – IDENTIFY PROBLEMS AND ISSUES – ORIGINATING COUNTY Practical consequences
Inappropriate C & F, FTA, OFA, BDFR
Unnecessary paperwork in Clerk’s office
Unnecessary and futile work for local law enforcement
Unnecessary motions to strike FTA and recall OFA
Unnecessary motions to set aside forfeitures
Defendant pays premium for unnecessary second bond
Defendant illegally arrested for FTA on court date not in release order
AOC pays damages to defendant
27. GOAL TWO – IDENTIFY PROBLEMS AND ISSUES – ORIGINATING COUNTY Options for presiding judge
Review the shuck (I know this is impractical)
Determine whether defendant arrested in another county
The following show defendant arrested in another county
Ink-signed original process, with local LEA return
County of arrest’s original with arresting officer’s return
Determine that the date on the release order matches today’s date
If not, and release order court date is still in the future
Continue case to date shown on release order
If not, and release order court date has passed
Recall any OFA already issued
Set new court date and notify defendant (How?)
28. GOAL TWO – IDENTIFY PROBLEMS AND ISSUES – ORIGINATING COUNTY Options for presiding judge (Continued)
If dates match, determine whether defendant released in county of arrest or still in jail
The following shows defendant still in jail
Only copy of release order
No original bond
The following show defendant released from jail
Original release order
Original bond
If defendant released
C & F, FTA, OFA, BDFR all appropriate
29. GOAL TWO – IDENTIFY PROBLEMS AND ISSUES – ORIGINATING COUNTY Options for presiding judge (Continued)
If defendant still in jail
Continue case
Encourage your sheriff to pick up the defendant before the new court date
Notify defendant of new court date ( How?)
30. GOAL TWO – IDENTIFY PROBLEMS AND ISSUES – ORIGINATING COUNTY Cooperative Problem Solving
Encourage your sheriff to respond promptly to requests to pick up prisoners from other counties
Make sure local law enforcement agencies return original process to clerk as soon as process is served in county of arrest
Reviews all out of county release orders to match court date in release order with calendar date, correct calendar if necessary
Reviews shuck before each court date to flag cases in which defendant arrested in another county
Prosecutor
Clerk
Appointed counsel
TCA
Set up training session (Goal Three)
31. GOAL THREE – OFFER LOCAL TRAINING MEETING Scope
By district or by county
Who attends
Magistrates
Jailers
Law Enforcement Agency Supervisors
Clerks
Judges
Who presides
Chief District Court Judge
32. GOAL THREE – OFFER LOCAL TRAINING MEETINGS Purposes
Training in law and procedure from all perspectives
Increase awareness among all participants of the other participants’ jobs, problems, points of view, resources
Identify solutions
Agenda
Intro by Chief District Court Judge
Training by us
Extended Q & A with trainers
Even more extended discussion among participants
33. GOAL THREE – OFFER LOCAL TRAINING MEETINGS Our availability
Basil and Tom through February 1st
Basil and John Rubin or Tom’s replacement after then
Precedent
1st District
11th District
21st District