Letter to Friend Explaining Court Processes CJA/224 Version 3

University of Phoenix Material

Letter to Friend Explaining Court Processes
Your Learning Team receives the following letter from a former team member and friend: ear Friends! " find m#self in $uite a predicament due to m# own misfortune and bad %udgment& '# ()#ear)old son and " were recentl# left homeless after " was laid off from m# %ob and m# house was ta*en b# the ban*& " enrolled m# son in a nearb# elementar# school when school started in the fall& " used the address where " lived last! because " don+t have a current address& The school district discovered that " wasn+t living at that address and charged me with fraud& " was arrested #esterda# and haven+t #et been to court& '# son was placed in the care of protective services& " %ust want to get out of %ail as soon as possible to reunite with m# son& " have some $uestions! and " was hoping #ou could do some research to find the answers for me& ,E--ETTE The police never read me m# 'iranda warnings& .ill m# case be dismissed as a result/ The police also haven+t $uestioned me #et& 0hould " agree to tal* to them! if as*ed/ "s this considered a state or federal offense/ 12'" .ill this be charged as a misdemeanor or a felon#/ o #ou thin* " reall# need an attorne#/ 2fter all! " am guilt#! and " can+t afford one& " also don+t have an# mone# for bail& 2re there an# options that would allow me to be released from custod# prior to trial and that would not re$uire mone#/ 3ow do " get to see the police reports/

203LEY

C456T-EY .hat is the difference between the grand %ur# hearing and a preliminar# hearing/ .hich would be better in m# case/ o #ou thin* that " should %ust plead guilt# so " can get this over with and reunite with m# son/ .h# or wh# not/ .ho decides if "+m guilt#: the prosecutor! %udge! or %ur#/ '26Y

.hat happens if " am found guilt#/ .hat t#pe of sentence do #ou thin* "+ll receive/ .h# do #ou thin* "+ll receive that sentence/ .hat are m# options if " don+t agree with the verdict or the sentence/

Write a 1!787) to 1977)word letter to #our friend answering #our friend+s $uestions& Cite and reference the assigned text and at least one other scholarl# and reliable source in #our letter& o not use dictionaries or enc#clopedias as source material for this assignment&

Letter to Friend Explaining Court Processes CJA/224 Version 3

Format #our letter consistent with 2P2 guidelines& The use of first person ;"! we< and second person ;#ou< is appropriate for this assignment&