I didn’t want the person arrested and charged with a crime, can I drop the charges?

 

No, once the defendant is charged with a crime by a law enforcement officer, the victim can not drop the charges. Only a prosecutor, after a careful review of the case, can make the determination to dismiss a case. We certainly understand that there are many reasons why a victim may want a case dismissed, and our prosecutors will take the victim’s desired outcome into consideration when evaluating the case. 

If the judge has ordered the defendant to have “no contact with the victim” but you want contact with the defendant while the case is pending, you need to contact the victim's advocate or prosecutor assigned to the case.

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If a judge has issued an EPO, IPO, or DVO, only that judge can amend the protective order.  It is likely a different judge than the one over the criminal charges.

That depends on the level of charge. Felony offenses in Kentucky are split into five categories: Class D, Class C, Class B, Class A, and Capital Offenses, each carrying different penalties ranging from 1 year in the penitentiary up to imposition of the Death Penalty.

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In most cases, the prosecutor also has the discretion to recommend probation in lieu of incarceration. 

If the prosecutor and the defendant’s attorney are able to reach a plea bargain, the case can be resolved fairly quickly. 

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If the case can not be resolved and one side requests a trial by jury, the case could last for several months or longer. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a large backlog and all cases are moving slower than in the past.