What is a Desk Appearance Ticket?

What exactly is a desk appearance ticket? Is it something minor like a parking ticket, or is it something serious that requires planning and attention?

This article outlines the ins and outs of desk appearance tickets. If the NYPD gave you a desk appearance ticket and you are looking for help, contact Cody Warner, P.C. for a free consultation. We can develop an effective strategy for your case.

What Does It Mean to Get a Desk Appearance Ticket?

If the police gave you a desk appearance ticket, also known as a DAT, then you were formally arrested for allegedly committing a crime. The police put you in handcuffs, transported you to their local precinct, and put you in a holding cell for several hours. At the precinct, you were fingerprinted, and the police drafted an arrest report. The police then handed you a DAT and released you.

Your DAT orders you to appear in court several weeks after your arrest. Naturally, if the police released you at the precinct, you might think that your situation is not very serious. Well, you might be right, but you might be wrong. Like with many situations in the legal world, the answer is that “it depends.”

If you receive a desk appearance ticket, it means that you are charged with a criminal offense, however, the offense is most likely minor. Under New York Criminal Procedure Law, the police are obligated to provide desk appearance tickets for most minor offenses. For more serious offenses, the police typically process a person through the system and bring the person directly to the judge.

Although your offense is likely minor if you received a desk appearance ticket, some people receive desk appearance tickets for serious offenses. Your outcome will be dependent on the nature of your charge and your criminal history.

Steps to Take When You Get a Desk Appearance Ticket

When you receive a desk appearance ticket in NYC, your first step should be to contact an NYC criminal defense lawyer.

Your lawyer will analyze your situation and tell you the likely outcomes. Additionally, if your case requires investigation, such as speaking with witnesses or gathering video footage, your lawyer can get that done before your first court appearance.

After you retain a lawyer, he will appear with you in court at your first court appearance.

What to Expect in Court

When you appear in court for your desk appearance ticket, you will first meet with your lawyer in the courthouse. Your lawyer will tell you any new information he gathered from the prosecution.

For some desk appearance tickets, your lawyer may convince the prosecution to offer you an Adjournment in Contemplation of Dismissal (ACD). An ACD is essentially a delayed dismissal. If you stay out of trouble for six months by not getting rearrested, then your case will automatically be dismissed and sealed. You will not have to come to court again.

If the prosecution is unwilling to offer a dismissal, then your lawyer may still be able to convince the prosecution to offer a violation. Unlike a crime, a violation does not result in a criminal record. For instance, a parking ticket is a non-criminal violation.

If the prosecution does not offer a deal on your first court date, then your case will be adjourned for a couple of months. During that time, your lawyer will research your case and negotiate with the prosecution to reduce your charges.

Need Help with a Desk Appearance Ticket? Contact Cody Warner P.C.

If you have a desk appearance ticket in New York City, contact Cody Warner, P.C. for a free consultation. We can discuss your case and develop a strategy for getting your charges dropped as soon as possible.