What Happens if a Family Member is in Jail?  What Can Parents Do?  How To Help Family with Criminal Charges

 

Lawyers can help answer questions, provide advice, and give direction – Bill Powers 

If Someone Calls and is in Jail, What Should I Do?

• Do not discuss ANY details over the phone about the alleged offense
• Calls are often recorded and could be used at Trial
• Remind loved ones of the:
  • Right to remain silent
  • Right to an attorney 
• Ask and write down personal information such as:
  • Positive Identification Number or PID 
  • Jail Identification Number or JID
  • Inmate Number
  • Case Number(s)
  • Types of Charges
  • Bond Amounts
  • Charging Officer or Detective Name

 

How to Figure out the Charges and Upcoming Court Dates in North Carolina:

• You can check out the North Carolina Court Date Inquiry ONLINE
• NOTE:  There normally is a delay on the entry of information
• The Court Date Inquiry may not be up-to-date

 

 

 

How to get Information about DWI Court Dates:

• https://www1.aoc.state.nc.us/www/calendars/DWIQuery.html
• Start Search Statewide
• Cross-Reference with North Carolina Court Date Inquiry
• Cross-Reference with County Sheriff Department Inquiry (if available)

 

 

See More:  How Is Court Scheduled in North Carolina?

 

Good General Advice:  Remain Silent, Ask for an Attorney

The American Bar Association recommends as follows:

 

 

See More:  American Bar Criminal Justice Information 2016

 

Things Lawyers Sometimes Do to Help with Criminal Charges:

• Review Charging Documentation
• Explain Best and Worst Case Scenarios
• Review Discovery
• Prepare and Argue Pretrial Motions
• Serve as Counsel at Trial
• Plea Bargain

 

 

Where to Get Information About Bond and Charges:

• Mecklenburg County:  Arrest and Inmate Inquiry Jail 

 

 

• Union County Sheriff:  Inmate Inquiry
• Cabarrus County:  Inmate Inquiry 
• Rowan County:  Inmate Inquiry 

 

 

Information About Structure of North Carolina Courts, Judicial Districts and District Attorneys:

• North Carolina District Court Districts
• North Carolina Prosecutorial Districts
• North Carolina Superior Court Districts

 

 

See More:  Mecklenburg County Sheriff Inmate Classification Policy

 

 

Modified Transcription of “How To Help Family with Criminal Charges” for the Hearing Impaired

Have you or a loved one been arrested or charged with a criminal offense in North Carolina? Hi, I’m Bill Powers and I’m here to help you through that process and explain some important legal rights in dealing with the legal system in North Carolina.

We get calls all the time, basically on a daily basis, from friends and family of people who have been charged with different criminal offenses in North Carolina. Sometimes that person’s in jail. Sometimes that person’s in time out or grounded, if it’s one of your kids. I understand that. You have questions. You want to know what you should do, if anything.

If someone’s in jail, that’s a little bit more complicated because it’s hard to communicate with that person about what happened, what took place, and what their rights are. It’s important to realize that those calls, whether you get a collect call from somebody, or there’s some other set of circumstances where they’re maybe in a detention facility or even about to talk to law enforcement, some of those calls can be, and in fact are, recorded. You may not want to discuss the specifics of the particular case.

There are other times when the person’s out of jail, out of custody, meaning they’ve been arrested and released on bond or something like that, and you want to know how to navigate the process. We help people with that as well.

Normally, sometimes people say, “Don’t just stand there, do something.” I take a different approach. Don’t just do something, stand there. Listen. Ask a lot of questions. See what information you can get from the system and where things are. I like to, as an attorney, figure out where we are in the process. Sometimes people are in jail for a matter of minutes or hours and other times they’ve been there for days, if not weeks or months.

There is a fair amount information available on-line regarding pending charges in North Carolina.  It is important to understand charge and arrest information is a matter of Public Record.  See the North Carolina Department of Public Safety Link:  https://www.ncdps.gov/DPS-Services/Crime-Data/Offender-Search  

See Also:  North Carolina Public Records

See More:  North Carolina ACIS Automated Criminal Infractions System Citizens Guide

 

North Carolina is comprised of 100 different counties.  Judicial Districts in North Carolina are broken into the General Courts of Justice, District Court Division and the Superior Court Division.  While every county in the state is served by Courts, District and Superior Courts may share responsibilities for more than one county.  That is true for prosecutorial districts, where certain Offices of the District Attorney may serve multiple counties and/or judicial districts.

 

 

You may go the Clerk of Court and search records Free of Charge.  PRINTING OF SUCH INFORMATION MAY BE EXTRA.

 

 

 

Give us a call. We offer a free, confidential consultation. It means we don’t talk about it with anyone else and we don’t charge you anything to talk to you. It’s only after you decide to retain our services that send you a bill for anything. We offer flat rates. We guarantee rates. In fact, we put them in writing for you. I’ll look forward to hearing from you.

If a loved one is in legal trouble and need help, call Bill Powers at Powers Law Firm PA 704-342-HELP