Legal Question in Criminal Law in Florida

How long can you be held in jail without being charged?

How long can you be held in the county jail if State has not filed charges against you? If my sister was arrested on December 13, 2007 and had a arraignment scheduled for 1/8/08 but it was cancelled and set to be rescheduled when the State file charges. What is the longest number of days or date can she be held in jail before they must release her, without them filing charges against her? Also if they don't file charges in the allotted time frame does the public defender's office have to do anything? She was arrested with 2 counts of theft (5,000 - 10,000), and the other person she was arreasted with was charges with the same thing but the amounts recorded was less.


Asked on 1/10/08, 2:57 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Brent Rose The Orsini & Rose Law Firm

Re: How long can you be held in jail without being charged?

21 days. As far as the public defender is concerned, when you have a free lawyer, you may get what you pay for.

Though most public defenders are very talented criminal lawyers, they have massive case loads and are very busy. You need to hire a good criminal lawyer who can dedicate himself or herself to her case.

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Answered on 1/13/08, 10:43 am


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