Greenwich Second-Degree Harassment Trial Process
Most cases are worked out in the plea negotiation process or with some other disposition where an experienced criminal defense attorney got the case dropped or dismissed without having to go to trial. In other cases, the person might be eligible for a pre-trial diversionary program, such as accelerated rehabilitation or the family violence education program. Therefore, it may be critical to discuss the potential Greenwich second-degree harassment trial process with a skilled harassment attorney who has experience in second-degree cases.
Defining the Harassment Trial Process
In Greenwich, the court that would handle a second-degree harassment case is the Stamford Superior Court. It would likely be at least one year before the case went to trial.
The first two months are normally back and forth with the prosecutor exchanging information, pre-trial motions, and discovery. Once the case’s Greenwich second-degree harassment trial process begins, it may take six months to complete.
Second-Degree Harassment Trial Expectations
If it proceeds to trial, the person should expect to hear from the alleged victim when they are put on the stand about any and all alleged communication received from the defendant as well as the history between them, like if there is any relationship.
Are There Alternatives to Going to Trial for Harassment?
There are a multitude of alternatives to go into the Greenwich second-degree harassment trial process. One could be if the person is accused of harassing another, but their speech is protected by the First Amendment, meaning that it is not criminal speech. It may be unwanted speech that is also protected by the constitution.
In those cases, if the defense attorney is able to convince the judge to give the client that program, the person has the opportunity to earn a dismissal of the charges through the program. Another case is the defense attorney is sometimes able to show the prosecutor evidence or counseling that is helpful or maybe some other favorable facts and convince the prosecutor to drop the case.
Role of an Arraignment in the Greenwich Second-Degree Harassment Trial Process
In the event a person is charged with harassment in the second-degree and the matter is considered to be family violence, which does not necessarily mean there is violence but a matter in which the complainant is either a significant other, a spouse, roommate, or an immediate family member, they could expect to the court to issue a criminal protective order, which could limit or prohibit contact with that person.
If it is not considered to be family violence and it is considered to be between two people who are not in one of those relationships, the court would likely order some limit or prohibition on contact. It is called a condition of release, meaning that the person is not going to have financial bond, but they are going to have limited contact with the accuser in some circumstances.