How long can you be held in jail without being chargedwith a crime?
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How long can you be held in jail without being chargedwith a crime?
A friend of mine was picked up yesterday and taken to jail. They said that he was being held while they investigate but he has not been charged with anything or been in front of a judge to get bond set. How long can they keep him there like that?
Asked on December 31, 2011 under Criminal Law, Tennessee
Answers:
FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
Each state has statutes regarding how long someone can be held in jail and not charged with a specific crime. In most instances it is 15 to 20 days. From what you have written is that the delay in a specific charge being filed against you friend and having an arraignment is due to the short staffing of the court system and the end of the year furloughs that most counties in this country have this time of year.
I suggest that if your friend has not yet retained a criminal defense attorney concerning the situation that he is in, that he do so sooner rather than later.
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