{"id":260,"date":"2020-05-18T08:27:26","date_gmt":"2020-05-18T08:27:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.harfordcountystatesattorney.org\/?page_id=260"},"modified":"2020-06-03T05:22:58","modified_gmt":"2020-06-03T05:22:58","slug":"frequently-asked-questions","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.harfordcountystatesattorney.org\/frequently-asked-questions\/","title":{"rendered":"Frequently Asked Questions"},"content":{"rendered":"<style>#sp-ea-420 .spcollapsing { height: 0; overflow: hidden; transition-property: height;transition-duration: 500ms;}#sp-ea-420.sp-easy-accordion>.sp-ea-single {margin-bottom: 10px; border: 1px none #e2e2e2; }#sp-ea-420.sp-easy-accordion>.sp-ea-single>.ea-header a {color: #444;}#sp-ea-420.sp-easy-accordion>.sp-ea-single>.sp-collapse>.ea-body {background: #fff; color: #444;}#sp-ea-420.sp-easy-accordion>.sp-ea-single {background: #ffffff;}#sp-ea-420.sp-easy-accordion>.sp-ea-single>.ea-header a .ea-expand-icon { float: left; color: #444;font-size: 14px;}.sp-ea-one.sp-easy-accordion .sp-ea-single .ea-header a{padding:0 0 2px !important; font-size:18px !important; font-weight:bold !important}\r\n.sp-ea-one.sp-easy-accordion .sp-ea-single .ea-body{padding:0 15px 12px 27px !important}<\/style><div id=\"sp_easy_accordion-1715255914\"><div id=\"sp-ea-420\" class=\"sp-ea-one sp-easy-accordion\" data-ex-icon=\"minus\" data-col-icon=\"plus\"  data-ea-active=\"ea-click\"  data-ea-mode=\"vertical\" data-preloader=\"\" data-scroll-active-item=\"\" data-offset-to-scroll=\"0\"><div class=\"ea-card ea-expand sp-ea-single\"><h3 class=\"ea-header\"><a class=\"collapsed\" id=\"ea-header-4200\" data-sptoggle=\"spcollapse\" data-sptarget=\"#collapse4200\" aria-controls=\"collapse4200\" href=\"javascript:void(0)\"  aria-expanded=\"true\" tabindex=\"0\"><i class=\"ea-expand-icon ea-icon-expand-minus\"><\/i> Why did I receive a subpoena to be in court?<\/a><\/h3><div class=\"sp-collapse spcollapse collapsed show\" id=\"collapse4200\" data-parent=\"#sp-ea-420\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"ea-header-4200\"><div class=\"ea-body\"><p>You have received a subpoena because you were an important witness to a crime.\u00a0 What you saw is essential to the case that is being heard by a jury or a judge.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"ea-card  sp-ea-single\"><h3 class=\"ea-header\"><a class=\"collapsed\" id=\"ea-header-4201\" data-sptoggle=\"spcollapse\" data-sptarget=\"#collapse4201\" aria-controls=\"collapse4201\" href=\"javascript:void(0)\"  aria-expanded=\"false\" tabindex=\"0\"><i class=\"ea-expand-icon ea-icon-expand-plus\"><\/i> Is it necessary to show up for court?<\/a><\/h3><div class=\"sp-collapse spcollapse \" id=\"collapse4201\" data-parent=\"#sp-ea-420\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"ea-header-4201\"><div class=\"ea-body\"><p>Yes, you must be aware that a subpoena is a court order, not an invitation.\u00a0 It is essential as a witness to a crime that you be present in the courtroom.\u00a0 Although you may not think your testimony is valuable to the case, it is not up to you to decide not to appear. If you question whether or not your testimony is necessary, call the State\u2019s Attorney\u2019s Office, and the prosecutor assigned to the case will make that determination.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"ea-card  sp-ea-single\"><h3 class=\"ea-header\"><a class=\"collapsed\" id=\"ea-header-4202\" data-sptoggle=\"spcollapse\" data-sptarget=\"#collapse4202\" aria-controls=\"collapse4202\" href=\"javascript:void(0)\"  aria-expanded=\"false\" tabindex=\"0\"><i class=\"ea-expand-icon ea-icon-expand-plus\"><\/i> What are my rights as a witness?<\/a><\/h3><div class=\"sp-collapse spcollapse \" id=\"collapse4202\" data-parent=\"#sp-ea-420\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"ea-header-4202\"><div class=\"ea-body\"><p>As a witness you can request that your address and phone number remain confidential and not be released by the court, State\u2019s Attorney\u2019s Office, police,\u00a0 District Court Commissioner or juvenile intake worker.\u00a0 In addition, you are not required to talk to the defendant\u2019s attorney or his representative.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"ea-card  sp-ea-single\"><h3 class=\"ea-header\"><a class=\"collapsed\" id=\"ea-header-4203\" data-sptoggle=\"spcollapse\" data-sptarget=\"#collapse4203\" aria-controls=\"collapse4203\" href=\"javascript:void(0)\"  aria-expanded=\"false\" tabindex=\"0\"><i class=\"ea-expand-icon ea-icon-expand-plus\"><\/i> How will I be prepared for court?<\/a><\/h3><div class=\"sp-collapse spcollapse \" id=\"collapse4203\" data-parent=\"#sp-ea-420\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"ea-header-4203\"><div class=\"ea-body\"><p>The prosecutor can help you prepare for trial by telling you what questions he or she will ask and what questions to expect from the defendant\u2019s attorney.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"ea-card  sp-ea-single\"><h3 class=\"ea-header\"><a class=\"collapsed\" id=\"ea-header-4204\" data-sptoggle=\"spcollapse\" data-sptarget=\"#collapse4204\" aria-controls=\"collapse4204\" href=\"javascript:void(0)\"  aria-expanded=\"false\" tabindex=\"0\"><i class=\"ea-expand-icon ea-icon-expand-plus\"><\/i> What if the Defendant threatens me?<\/a><\/h3><div class=\"sp-collapse spcollapse \" id=\"collapse4204\" data-parent=\"#sp-ea-420\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"ea-header-4204\"><div class=\"ea-body\"><p>If the defendant threatens you, or interferes with you in any way, do not hesitate to call the local police agency and the State\u2019s Attorney\u2019s Office immediately.\u00a0 It is a crime for the defendant to do anything to stop you from testifying at trial. Witness protection resources may be available to increase your protection and enable you to participate in court.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"ea-card  sp-ea-single\"><h3 class=\"ea-header\"><a class=\"collapsed\" id=\"ea-header-4205\" data-sptoggle=\"spcollapse\" data-sptarget=\"#collapse4205\" aria-controls=\"collapse4205\" href=\"javascript:void(0)\"  aria-expanded=\"false\" tabindex=\"0\"><i class=\"ea-expand-icon ea-icon-expand-plus\"><\/i> What if the Defendant\u2019s Attorney asks me to discuss the case?<\/a><\/h3><div class=\"sp-collapse spcollapse \" id=\"collapse4205\" data-parent=\"#sp-ea-420\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"ea-header-4205\"><div class=\"ea-body\"><p>The defendant\u2019s attorney may contact you to ask questions to help him or her prepare the defense. You are not required by law to talk to the defendant\u2019s attorney. If you do wish to talk to the defendant\u2019s attorney, it is a good idea to inform the prosecutor prior to the meeting that you have with the defendant\u2019s attorney.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"ea-card  sp-ea-single\"><h3 class=\"ea-header\"><a class=\"collapsed\" id=\"ea-header-4206\" data-sptoggle=\"spcollapse\" data-sptarget=\"#collapse4206\" aria-controls=\"collapse4206\" href=\"javascript:void(0)\"  aria-expanded=\"false\" tabindex=\"0\"><i class=\"ea-expand-icon ea-icon-expand-plus\"><\/i> What if as a witness I want to drop the charges against the defendant?<\/a><\/h3><div class=\"sp-collapse spcollapse \" id=\"collapse4206\" data-parent=\"#sp-ea-420\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"ea-header-4206\"><div class=\"ea-body\"><p>Once charges have been filed, it is the State of Maryland through the State\u2019s Attorney\u2019s Office who determines when to bring charges to trial. Therefore, the choice to pursue charges is up to the prosecutor, not the parties in the case.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"ea-card  sp-ea-single\"><h3 class=\"ea-header\"><a class=\"collapsed\" id=\"ea-header-4207\" data-sptoggle=\"spcollapse\" data-sptarget=\"#collapse4207\" aria-controls=\"collapse4207\" href=\"javascript:void(0)\"  aria-expanded=\"false\" tabindex=\"0\"><i class=\"ea-expand-icon ea-icon-expand-plus\"><\/i> How do I find out what happened with the case if the Court Status Recording and website say no witnesses are needed for the case the next day?<\/a><\/h3><div class=\"sp-collapse spcollapse \" id=\"collapse4207\" data-parent=\"#sp-ea-420\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"ea-header-4207\"><div class=\"ea-body\"><p>You can call the State\u2019s Attorney\u2019s Office Victim Witness Unit at (410) 638-3243 to find out the status of a case after the scheduled court date.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"ea-card  sp-ea-single\"><h3 class=\"ea-header\"><a class=\"collapsed\" id=\"ea-header-4208\" data-sptoggle=\"spcollapse\" data-sptarget=\"#collapse4208\" aria-controls=\"collapse4208\" href=\"javascript:void(0)\"  aria-expanded=\"false\" tabindex=\"0\"><i class=\"ea-expand-icon ea-icon-expand-plus\"><\/i> Where do I park if I am subpoenaed to be a witness in Circuit Court?<\/a><\/h3><div class=\"sp-collapse spcollapse \" id=\"collapse4208\" data-parent=\"#sp-ea-420\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"ea-header-4208\"><div class=\"ea-body\"><p>Victims and witnesses may park on the fifth floor of the Parking Garage free of charge. Place your parking permit in the windshield of your vehicle. DO NOT DISCUSS YOUR CASE WHILE PROCEEDING TO THE COURTHOUSE.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"ea-card  sp-ea-single\"><h3 class=\"ea-header\"><a class=\"collapsed\" id=\"ea-header-4209\" data-sptoggle=\"spcollapse\" data-sptarget=\"#collapse4209\" aria-controls=\"collapse4209\" href=\"javascript:void(0)\"  aria-expanded=\"false\" tabindex=\"0\"><i class=\"ea-expand-icon ea-icon-expand-plus\"><\/i> How can I receive verification for my employer that I was present in court?<\/a><\/h3><div class=\"sp-collapse spcollapse \" id=\"collapse4209\" data-parent=\"#sp-ea-420\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"ea-header-4209\"><div class=\"ea-body\"><p>You may go the State\u2019s Attorney\u2019s Office, Victim Witness Unit after you leave the courtroom and ask for a slip that states that you were indeed present in court as a witness for a case being heard that specific day, or you can get your summons\/subpoena time and date stamped by the State\u2019s Attorney\u2019s Office when you arrive.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.harfordcountystatesattorney.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/260"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.harfordcountystatesattorney.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.harfordcountystatesattorney.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.harfordcountystatesattorney.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.harfordcountystatesattorney.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=260"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.harfordcountystatesattorney.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/260\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":421,"href":"https:\/\/www.harfordcountystatesattorney.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/260\/revisions\/421"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.harfordcountystatesattorney.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=260"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}