Arrests for federal offenses are often just the beginning, of the complicated and sometimes overwhelming legal process. It can be hard to navigate all of it alone, which is why it is vital that you get in touch with a lawyer. A skilled attorney could examine the facts of your case, and determine what options and strategies may work best for you. If you want to know more about Maryland federal arrests following indictment, consult a skilled federal attorney that could defend you.
How Long Does it Take to Find Out About Being Indicted?
When a person is indicted for a federal offense, it can take a few weeks for them to learn of the indictment. It usually does not take more time than that, depending on the nature of the allegations and how the government proceeds. Usually, once the grand jury returns an indictment, the person learns about it relatively quickly. When the government has an arrest warrant, they may reach out to allow the person to turn themselves into the authorities in order to avoid Maryland federal arrests following indictment.
Arrests Before Indictments
The specifics of whether a person is indicted or arrested first, depends on the nature of the allegations and whether the case was initiated in state court by state law enforcement or it came directly from the federal government. With Maryland federal arrests following indictment, an individual finds out that they have been indicted before they are arrested, which gives them time to flee. That is why when there is a violent crime, or it involves victims or property damages, the government may seek an arrest warrant and may not want to give the person prior notice. When the person has ties to different countries or is perceived as a flight risk, the government does not want to signal what they are doing.
Process of Being Indicted
Occasionally, people are arrested on state charges while the federal government is developing their case and has not received the government indictment from a grand jury. The indictment comes from a grand jury when federal prosecutors present evidence to a group of jurors pulled from the community. The grand jury votes on whether there is probable cause to bring the charges.
The grand jury may meet over the course of weeks or months as prosecutors develop the case and argue their case to the jurors. The government produces witnesses, documents, and other evidence in an attempt to demonstrate that there is probable cause to proceed with criminal charges. When the grand jury votes to bring charges, that is called the indictment.
Sometimes, the government will obtain an indictment and then seek an arrest warrant. It might be the first time anyone hears about the charges. The process takes place over time. When a person knows they are under investigation, the indictment does not come as a surprise. The federal government can reach out to a person and simply ask them to turn themselves in on the charges.
Self-Surrender Following an Indictment
A federal arrest depends on the specific allegations and the nature of the crime. When an investigation takes place over some period of time, the government may allow a person to turn themselves in when the government is not concerned about them being a flight risk and there are no exigent circumstances that the person might commit more crimes. When the allegation and the alleged offense is a concluded, the government can allow someone to turn themselves in and begin the judicial process.
Self-surrender can help one’s case. It is something a person should discuss with their lawyer because usually there can be guarantees that it will help their case. As the case proceeds through negotiations, the person’s self-surrender can be used in support of a lighter sentence or to help their case because it shows a willingness to cooperate with the prosecution and accept responsibility to a degree. However, it is not something that is automatically beneficial and there is no guarantee that it is beneficial. It rarely hurts a person’s case is often helpful to their case. The defense lawyer can point to it as a mitigating factor as they proceed through negotiations and the case. If an individual has been charged with a federal offense and they wish to know more about Maryland federal arrests following indictment, they should consult an experienced federal offense attorney that can guide them through the process.
