Families of SOs Community Group
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So my DYFUS worker was just here and she told me that she thinks that it will be going to the grand jury soon because they asked her for her report I don't know what is in her report I don't know what to expect now what happends now the only thing I found out was that his bail is cash only that I did not know so what happends now the only thing that my husband went to court for was for them to read him his charges that's all nothing else he hasn't put in a plea of guilty or not guilty nothing I am so nervoes I feel like crying while we have wanted this case o move forward so we can be a family again I don't know why I feel like this I am so scared so I guess my question s what happends next what can my husband expect and what can I expect
A grand jury is a proceeding that occurs before charges are filed to see if the evidence that the prosecutor has is enough to support going to trial. In some jurisdictions instead of using a grand jury they will use a preliminary hearing which is basically a shortened trial where a judge will determine if there is enough evidence to have a full jury trial or bench trial.
If your husband has already had his initial appearance, what is next in the trial process is going to be the arraignment. This hearing you've probably seen on television, the judge reads the charges and asks the defendant how do you plead. If your husband and his lawyer plead not guilty they will set up a time to go to trial. In between the arraignment and trial they may have other appearances to conference to reschedule the trial or to file motions for the judge to rule on. Just before the trial begins, if it is a jury trial there will be voir dire or jury selection.
I hope this gives you a little more understanding of what's next.
My best advice is get the best attorney you can afford. And now is not the time to try and beat the system. Most of the time if the prosecutors is pressing charges they are going to win at trial. So a lot of times defense attorneys jobs are to get their clients the best plea deal possible.
-Independent2014
I was off big time.
http://www.dmacc.edu/instructors/sludelhofen/Intro%20to%20CJ_files/Chapter%209.ppt
This is a good idea of what is next. Grand jury means that the prosecutor will present the case to a jury to see of there is enough evidence to take it to trial.