When the police knocked on my door for the first time, I was sure that my case would be resolved within several weeks. how mistaken I was!
Now, after three years, I realize why criminal cases never end. The system takes rather longer than you imagine. Way slower.
The Reality Check Nobody Talks About
The majority of the population anticipates that their criminal case will be completed soon. TV programmes show that it is the simple thing to do – arrest, trial, verdict. Takes a few hours.
Real life? By a long shot.
Ordinary cases can take 6-12 months or longer. More complicated ones may take up to 2-4 years. Others are even prolonged.
I recall sitting in the initial meeting with my attorney. How long will this be? I asked. She paused. “Honestly? It may be as little as eight months or as long as three years.”
I was sunk in my heart.
What Happens During Those Months
Here‘s no one is going to tell you about criminal case timelines. Your case is not just idling on a shelf waiting to go to a hearing.
Pre-trial motions eat up months. Your lawyer does paperwork. The prosecutor fires back. The judge conducts hearings. It takes weeks for each step.
Discovery takes forever. Evidence is exchanged between both parties: Police report, witness account, videos, and photos. All over should be reconsidered, copied, and analyzed.
Court schedules are packed. Judges have to deal with two hundred odd cases. Trial dates usually take 6-12 months just to secure an opening.
Plea negotiations happen slowly. Most cases settle in plea bargains, not in trials. But these negotiations can go on for years as each side probes the other.
The Factors That Speed Things Up (Or Slow Them Down)
Some cases move a lot quicker than others. Here is what sets it apart:
Jail vs. bail changes everything. If you are in custody, courts consider your case a priority. You get faster hearings and an expedited trial. Getting out on bail? You wait a little longer.
Case complexity matters hugely. Simple possession of drugs? Maybe 8-10 months. White-collar crimes of hundreds of victims? Maybe 3+ years.
Your lawyer’s schedule affects timing. Experienced lawyers are busy. They may require time to adequately defend you.
Prosecutor workload varies by jurisdiction. Big cities with overworked DAs? Expect delays. Smaller Counties may take the initiative.
The Waiting Game Wears You Down
The most difficult thing is not the uncertainty about your sentence, it is waiting all the time
You appear in court every couple of weeks. The prosecutor is not prepared or a witness is unable to attend it or the judge is in an emergency.
The phrase we will continue this to next month becomes your worst nightmare.
I watched other defendants go through the system. Some were resolved right off quickly. Others waited years for charges of crime, the same charges I was charged with.
Things are getting more stressful. It’s impossible to make any long-term plans. Jobs are slipping away. The relationship is under pressure.
What You Can Actually Control
Many timeline elements are outside your control. But here are a few things that may help:
Stay in contact with your lawyer. The frequent sessions ensure that the progress of your case continues. Do not wait till they come and call.
Show up to every court date. Missing appearances lead to delays and irritate judges.
Consider plea offers seriously. Trials also add 6-12 months to the milestone. At times, a good plea bargain is the way to go.
Be patient with the process. Resistance to the pace of the system will not make things faster. It may make them take their time.
The Bottom Line
Criminal cases take so much longer than they should. Expect a year, at least, possibly more, two or three.
The waiting is agony. The insecurity drains you. But knowing a reasonable timeline gives mental preparation for the long term.
Your case will be closed eventually. It will just not occur as quickly as you would like.
This is what most defendants find out the hard way. At least, now you would know what to anticipate before you are already deep in the system, pondering when it would finally be over.
