JAILWATCH and COURTWATCH Initial Appearance 72 Hour Hearings

Rickey Stokes

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Posted by: RStokes
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Date: Jan 28 2019 1:17 PM

1st App 1-28-19 by on Scribd

HOUSTON COUNTY:    The Honorable Benjamin Lewis holds Initial Appearance/72 Hours Hearings for persons in the Houston County Jail and have not made bond.

These are people in jail that have not made bond within 72 hours. They are required to appear before a Judge or Magistrate within 72 hours.

Failure to follow this practice cost the City of Dothan Municipal Court $ 42,500.00 and changed the bonding practice within the Dothan Police Department. The City of Dothan on misdemeanors are known now as "CATCH and RELEASE". We will explain that in upcoming articles and posting of United States Federal Court Documents for your reading pleasure.

Today Judge Lewis saw 12 people.

RSP = Receiving Stolen Property in the 1st degree

FTA = Failure to Appear on the original offense

POM1st = Possession of Marijuana in the first degree ( other states have made it legal )

UPCS - Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance

PROB VIOL UPCS = Probation Violation on Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance

FTA UPDP = Failure to Appear on Unlawful Possesson of Drug Paraphenelia

FTA UP/RCS=  Failure To Appear on Unlawfull Possession/Receiving of Controlled Substance

WRIT = Indicted already by a Grand Jury

SORNA VIOL = Failure to register as a Sex Offender

DV3rd - Domestic Violence in the 3rd Degree

The Initial Appearance in only an Advisory Court Appearance. There is normally no real action taken except to advise a person what they are charged with, the sentence range, their rights, do they plan to employ an attorney and if not complete a form and if they qualify they will appoint an attorney.

The CASH ONLY bonds are normally for persons who do not pay their fines and costs. The court system sends a notice to the last address on file. Most likely that person does not reside there anymore and never get notice to appear in court. A warrant of arrest is issued for them and a cash bond is set for when they are arrested. 

Judge Lewis has some authority from Judges to take some partial payment, release the person from jail, and set a court date. Some Judges have the amount set so high the person can not make the payment to be released.

There is a difference in someone who makes a six figure salary and one who works for minimum wage. Some Judges, who make six figure salaries, get that and work with people. Some forget that and do not work with people.

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