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YOUR DAY IN COURT
The following will give you an
idea of what procedures you will be facing when you have your day in court:
Your Day in Felony Court
You will appear in court, with or
without your attorney, to answer docket call at 9:00 a.m. If your case is
resolved by you being placed on Community Supervision (probation), you will go
over some documents with your attorney. Those documents will include the
Conditions of Supervision. You will then be asked by the clerk to swear
that you understood all of the documents you and your attorney went over.
A Court CSO (Community Supervision Officer) will then ask you to fill out some
other paperwork.
After you go before the judge for
sentencing, you will
be directed by the court officer to take all your court documents to the County Clerk's Office
(Collection Department), where court costs,
attorney’s fees and fines will be set up. Once in the collection
department of the clerk’s office, you will set up a payment schedule for these
fees. The standard payment period consists of three payments paid out over
ninety days. The clerk will explain the consequences of not paying the money
owed and a copy of the payment schedule will be given to you. Any problems
with the payment schedule must be discussed with the Clerk at this time. The collection clerk
will then direct you to the Community Supervision Department across the street
for initial intake.
Your Day in Misdemeanor Court
You will appear in court, with or
without your attorney, to answer docket call at 9:00 a.m.
When you get to the courtroom,
you will sign in. The Assistant District Attorney will call your name to review
your case with you. He/She may make you an offer for probation. If
you accept, you will meet with the secretary to go over the paperwork and be
sworn in. As the Judge calls the docket, you will answer. The Judge
will call you to the bench and ask what has been worked out on your case.
The Judge will accept the plea bargain for probation (if that is what you have
decided) and you will be told to see the probation officer in the courtroom.
You will be fingerprinted and taken to the County Clerk’s Office to set up a
payment plan for court costs, attorney fees and fines.
A copy of the court order
and the collections information will be brought to the collection clerk’s office
by the bailiff, court officer or defense attorney. All of the original
documents are kept by the courtroom clerk.
You will then be instructed to
go across the street to the probation department.
Probation registration
When you arrive at the probation
department at 1524 East Mulberry, Suite 200, you will be required to present a photo identification, your
social security card, and your court papers at the window. You will
complete a Personal Data Information Sheet and you will be photographed.
You will be told when to report back to the office for the intake procedure.
This will usually occur in the afternoon.
It is highly recommended that children not be brought with you anytime you come
to the probation department. They can never be left unattended as sex
offenders report to this office.
Probation
intake procedure
Intake is an orientation-type process that
is the first step in the commencement of your Community Supervision term. Each
individual will be given the name and phone number of his or her Community
Supervision Officer at this time. The first phase of Intake is a review of the
terms and conditions of Community Supervision; any questions regarding any term
and/or condition will be answered at this time. The next phase of the Intake
process is a review of available Community Service work crews, Community
Resource Agencies, fundamental office information (hours, addresses, payment
procedures, etc.), and the Civil Rights and Federal Firearm Control Act.
Individuals who are transferring out of Brazoria County are advised of their
reporting procedures, payment procedures, etc. The final phase of Intake is the
completion of the Adult Placement Indicator, or API. The API is required by the
State of Texas and is also a condition of Community Supervision. It is a tool
that measures an individual’s literacy level and consists of a Vocabulary
section and a Comprehension section; this takes approximately twenty minutes to
complete. The entire Intake process takes no more than one hour and is
required of all individuals placed on Community Supervision. No children
are allowed during the intake procedure. |
