How do I reclaim my property?
The Police Department handles confiscated items. You can find more information on their website or by calling them at (812) 663-3131.
Can I press or Drop Charges?
Pressing charges refers to when a victim or complainant issues a complaint against someone for a possible crime and implies an intention to prosecute by agreeing to testify in trial. Although you may be the "victim" of a crime, the crime is also against the State of Indiana. Once the prosecuting attorney has filed a charge, the decision to dismiss the case rests solely with the prosecuting attorney, but the attorney may take the victim’s opinion into consideration in some cases.
What is a plea bargain, and why is it used?
Plea bargains are agreements between the prosecuting attorney, the criminal defendant, and his/her lawyer that set forth terms that both parties determine to be a reasonable disposition of a case without the case proceeding to trial. Plea bargaining allows for the efficient administration of justice, as it is not always necessary to proceed to trial on all criminal cases filed. Factors like the type and level of the offense, the quantity and quality of evidence, and the prior criminal history of the accused all weigh in on the final plea bargain outcome.
How long will my case take?
All criminal cases are required to be completed within one year of the date of filing. Many cases are concluded before the one-year time limit, and many exceed the limit. Typically, cases that are minor in nature (i.e., misdemeanors, Level 6 felonies, etc.) work through the normal system faster than felonies.
What is a cause number?
All cases filed receive a cause number made up of numbers and letters used to quickly identify them. The format of these numbers and letters is: [County Number][Court ID]-[Year][Month]-[Type]-[Annual Sequence Number]. For example, 16C01-1901-IF-00001 refers to Decatur County (16), First Circuit Court (C01), filed in January of 2019 (1901), case type of Infraction (IF), and it was the 1st (00001) Infraction to be filed in 2019. It is helpful to keep track of cause numbers relevant to you in order to make it easier to communicate with the Prosecutor’s office, the court office, and find information online relating to the case(s) you’re involved in.