How long do burglary investigations take

Market Your Law Firm. Lawyer Directory. Call us at 1 Criminal Statutes of Limitations. Statutes of limitations establish time limits for charging defendants with a crime. Learn about the typical time limits for criminal cases and what happens when charges are filed after the time limit has passed.

Typical Statutes of Limitations The time limits that statutes of limitations establish vary from one state to another and according to the seriousness of a crime. Case Example: Statutes of Limitations Larry breaks into a neighbor's house and steals an Italian lamp that he has always wanted for his own apartment. When Does the Clock Start and Stop?

The Law Is Changing The law in this area is changing and evolving. Your Right to a Speedy Trial and the Statute of Limitations Statutes of limitations, which establish time limits for starting criminal proceedings, are distinguished from the Sixth Amendment right to a speedy trial , which applies to the length of time between the beginning of criminal proceedings and cases going to trial.

Selected State-by-State Statutes of Limitations Every state has detailed laws concerning which statute of limitations applies to various criminal offenses the periods mentioned above in "Typical Statutes of Limitations" are only examples. Talk to a Lawyer Start here to find criminal defense lawyers near you. Practice Area Please select Zip Code.

The courthouse is right next door and they can transport them on the ground by the U. They are going to be held in custody and brought to court on the next business day. Often, if an individual has sought and retained a criminal defense attorney before an arrest is to take place, they are looking to have their attorney arrange for a self-surrender in the event that an arrest warrant is issued. This happens when the police have decided they got the right person and ask a judge for a warrant to arrest the individual.

In the case that an individual has managed to hire a lawyer before the warrant has been issued, the attorney is able to get in touch with the police, and under certain circumstances a self-surrender can be arranged. This situation is ideal because an attorney will tell you and the police they should not be questioning you after self-surrender. Also, the arrest will take place at a time and date that is much more convenient for the individual.

Instead of being surprised at home or work, they will arrange ahead of time to come with their attorneys to a police station. The burglary arrest process begins with far less stress for the alleged burglar. Matthew Wilson. DC Burglary Arrest Process Police will not wait any longer than necessary to effectuate an arrest because burglary charges in DC are a serious felony charge.

The police will want to find out if the individual has any of the stolen items on their person or within their property, like their car or home, if the arrest does not happen immediately. They will do an investigation both before and after an arrest to try to get all of the evidence they can to tie that individual to the alleged burglary. If a person discovers that they are being investigated for a DC burglary prior to their arrest it is important to contact an experienced burglary attorney to ensure that all of their rights are protected, and to begin planning the best strategy possible for their defense.

In the vast majority of burglary investigations, the Metropolitan Police Department , which is the main law enforcement agency in DC, completes the investigations. In the vast majority of situations, however, the Metropolitan Police Department will conduct the investigation unless the burglary is alleged to have occurred on federal property, in which case a federal agency may do the investigation.

Investigations could be as quick as minutes or as long as months, depending upon the information and evidence of the case. Having a detective or federal agent arrive on your doorstep or repeatedly call you can be frightening. You may not be sure of what to do. Any time the police or a federal agent wants to talk to you, whether they claim you are a suspect or not, we recommend you call an experienced criminal defense lawyer to ensure your rights are protected.

Despite what the police may tell you, it does not make you look guilty to hire a lawyer before speaking to the police — it makes you look smart.

To schedule a free and confidential consultation of your case, contact us today at To decide whether or not you should call an attorney, consider the items below as signs the police are likely investigating you as a criminal suspect:. Most people imagine that the police arrest someone who is in the process of committing a crime. However, offenders often get away before the police arrive.

In many cases, hours go by before someone notices a crime has occurred, such as someone coming home to discover a burglary. Once a crime has occurred and law enforcement is notified, then the police will conduct an investigation, identify a suspect, and present the matter to the district attorney.

The police or federal agency will collect as much evidence from the crime scene as possible, including:. Smaller law enforcement teams will have detectives and other officers process a crime scene. Larger police forces typically have personnel with specialized training who are dedicated to evidence collection. Whether or not a detective processes the crime scene, a detective will be involved right away. Often, the police interview many individuals in connection with a serious crime.

If an agent or detective wants to talk with you, this is not necessarily a sign that you are a suspect. However, if a detective calls you or comes to your home, do not speak with them or answer questions before talking to a lawyer. There are many reasons the police may come to your home. They may want information about someone who is a suspect. They may want information about the area where the crime took place. They may want to question you because you may be a suspect. The reason for being questioned by police does not change the fact that you should call a lawyer before saying anything.

At any point during an investigation, you could become a criminal suspect. By having a lawyer with you any time you speak to the police, you have someone there to protect your rights and look after your interests. While the police are reviewing the evidence available to them and initially questioning persons of interest, forensic scientists are testing other evidence.