DOJ Pending Proposal to Not Guilty Plea's

[ThatEffinGuy]

I would like to propose a change to the not guilty plea's currently in Los Santos.

I understand that everyone has their right to a fair trial and all but I would like to see some changes happen. Currently, a lot of the paperwork and things come down to the LEO's doing everything and having to do so much paperwork. I would like to try and limit that down some and also help the DOJ out as well.

With that being said....

Lets bring back some of the old ways Not Guilty Plea's work. Right now anyone and everyone who wants to plead not guilty to the charge(s) or situation at hand and it puts a lot more work on the Officer and puts them behind a computer for longer then really needed IMO. If someone wants to plead Not Guilty to the charges, currently Officers have to sit, do a prefiling and everything and off of the streets for 30+minutes doing all this extra work on top of the current work load we do. Lets change Not Guilty to stay in the system, the person pays their fines and serve their time. If the individual wishes to contest the charges, they have X amount of days (14-30 days) to file the paperwork to the docket. If the individual does NOT file the paperwork, they automatically turn guilty after that allowed time. This IMO will help limit a little bit of the work from the DOJ side of things and also IMO help civilians out as well.

 

[Brandon Cox]

If I may voice my opinion here, the only issue I have with that is them paying the fine. I am all for them doing the time prior to trial depending on the charges obviously. I am also about them having a fair and impartial process to prove their innocence. My opinion is that someone's liberty/freedom should not be limited due to the inconvenience law enforcement encounter. It is part of the job but I have to agree with you that it is becoming tedious and is constantly wearing down law enforcement.

The reason why I have issues with paying the fine is because if they are found not guilty, it could hinder any department's funding. If we collect their fine, send them off, and they are found not guilty at the end of their process, that money has to be refunded and then some due to them being imprisoned when they were found not guilty.

Nonetheless, I agree with your proposal that law enforcement are becoming worn down due to the massive work load we have and there needs to be actions taken to lessen it so law enforcement can do their job effectively and actually have the want to do their job.

 

[ThatEffinGuy]

So how are we going to make sure these not guilty pleas that pass passed the 5 recent arrests then get the money from their actions if it eventually changes to Guilty? I am not against giving people their constitutional rights. Its not inconveniencing me doing all this but at the same time ME as a police officer should not have to be doing all this extra leg work either. I wouldnt have to do this back home, I shouldnt have to do majority of it here as well. Yes technically you would have some kind of appearance notice from the courts. So if the Suspect/Defendant wants to plead not guilty, have them file the docket.

Paying the fines back if found not guilty in court would not hinder the departments funding at all, that would come from the DOJ which the fines are also going towards. So paying back fined money isn't an issue then. A law enforcement department should only lose money in civil litigation not through reimbursement. We do not have to give them any extra money for the imprisonment unless its passed X years as well. None of these would be year+ unless super serious crimes which should go to the docket.

 

[Brandon Cox]

The sad thing is, if the defendant of a case goes to prison for an allotted time but is found to be not guilty, the department would have to reimburse them of their fines AND time imprisoned due to potential lost wages and other related stuff. The departments do not get paid for the time spent in prison by someone. They only get paid by the fines collected. In this specific instance where someone pleas not guilty and is to be fined and sent to jail for their time, I do not necessarily see the issue. However, I don't see the effectiveness of fining someone when they plead not guilty. If anything the state can seize their assets if they are found guilty and do not want to pay their fines.

 

[Ninj]

The issue with this, is having the defendants write up their docket makes very little sense when the police have to fill out a report anyway. All a prefiling is in essence is copying it from the MDT if you did a decent enough job. We are currently looking at ways to improve things however, this method I am personally against.

 

[ThatEffinGuy]

The issue with this, is having the defendants write up their docket makes very little sense when the police have to fill out a report anyway. All a prefiling is in essence is copying it from the MDT if you did a decent enough job. We are currently looking at ways to improve things however, this method I am personally against.

They take their arrest and all and contest by putting it through the docket. Its really not that difficult, if PD can easily follow a template, civilians can do the same exact thing minus the evidence will have to be submitted via the Prosecution unless defendant has some when filing. There's no difference from a defendant or their council from following the same template.

 

[Brandon Cox]

I agree that it isn't that difficult because I am used to filling out templates and filing paperwork. Those citizens that are not used to such matters may be completely lost and we have to keep that in mind.

 

[Syn Castillo]

I would like to propose a change to the not guilty plea's currently in Los Santos.

I understand that everyone has their right to a fair trial and all but I would like to see some changes happen. Currently, a lot of the paperwork and things come down to the LEO's doing everything and having to do so much paperwork. I would like to try and limit that down some and also help the DOJ out as well.

With that being said....

Lets bring back some of the old ways Not Guilty Plea's work. Right now anyone and everyone who wants to plead not guilty to the charge(s) or situation at hand and it puts a lot more work on the Officer and puts them behind a computer for longer then really needed IMO. If someone wants to plead Not Guilty to the charges, currently Officers have to sit, do a prefiling and everything and off of the streets for 30+minutes doing all this extra work on top of the current work load we do. Lets change Not Guilty to stay in the system, the person pays their fines and serve their time. If the individual wishes to contest the charges, they have X amount of days (14-30 days) to file the paperwork to the docket. If the individual does NOT file the paperwork, they automatically turn guilty after that allowed time. This IMO will help limit a little bit of the work from the DOJ side of things and also IMO help civilians out as well.

Which part of the process are you seeking to save time on?

• Collecting Evidence
• Drafting the Report
• Submitting paperwork to the courts
• Going to court

 

[ThatEffinGuy]

Which part of the process are you seeking to save time on?

• Collecting Evidence
• Drafting the Report
• Submitting paperwork to the courts
• Going to court

Doing the prefiling on not guilty. I can also speak in person too.

 

[Syn Castillo]

I am free most evenings after 7PM EST.

 

[Alastor Magne]

I will be reviewing all pending proposals in due course please be patient as they are on my radar.