Walk It Through: When Police Come to the House
A knock after a neighbor's call, a roommate who says come in, a red mark, and a call from the jail.
Officers knock at a rented house after a neighbor reports shouting. One asks to come in and look around.
Two things a person in this spot might do. Picking one shows what the law says about it.
One call to a shared house with no warrant. A no contact order set at the first appearance, a protective order case, and the criminal trial are not worked through here.
A practice walkthrough, not a prediction of how any real one will go. Legal information, not legal advice.
Words this turns on
Terms with a legal meaning that is narrower than the everyday one. Each links to the definition and the authority behind it.
- Personal recognizanceRelease before trial on a promise to appear, which a bailable defendant gets unless the magistrate decides it will not assure appearance or will jeopardize someone's safety.
- Simple misdemeanorThe lowest level of public offense, carrying a fine of $105 to $855, with up to 30 days in jail in place of or beside the fine.
- Aggravated misdemeanorThe highest level of misdemeanor, with up to two years and a fine of $855 to $8,540 where no specific penalty is given.
- AssaultAn act meant to cause pain, injury or offensive contact, or to put someone in fear of it, with the apparent ability to carry it out; or intentionally pointing a firearm at someone or displaying a dangerous weapon threateningly.
- Dangerous weaponAny firearm, a knife with a blade over five inches, a stun device, and anything used in a way showing intent to kill or seriously injure.
- Domestic abuse assaultAn assault between people in a domestic relationship, a simple misdemeanor for a first offense, rising with bodily injury, a weapon, intent to seriously injure, or pressure on the throat or neck.
- Serious misdemeanorThe middle level of misdemeanor, with a fine of $430 to $2,560 and up to one year in jail.