What does this citation thing mean?

Timothy S

he was summoned to court as a witness. He didn't respond, so he got a warrant for his arrest. they will hold him as a witness for his testimony and could find him in contempt of court, and he may serve a few weeks in jail. More likely than not, they will just let him go after the trial. They do mean business when they tell you to respond. Maybe your bf should be more responsible next time.

~Kitana~

A citation is just a call to go to court as a witness. The police giving a personal citation just means the police themselves will turn up at his door to hand it to him so that the court knows that he has received it. If he doesn't show up then he will be in contempt of court and will get arrested for it. If the police have taken him in, it's just to make sure he doesn't do a runner and not show up. The case must be really serious or your boyfriend must have dealings with the police for them not to trust him to turn up. Have you asked the police about it? Or even a lawyer? They will be able to give you an answer. But a citation is just a call to go to court and you must turn up.

Big Bobby Clobber

Because he did not return the form, there was a warrant issued for his arrest. He will probably be kept in custody until after he testifies. He is possibly being held as a material witness.

Weed

Maybe they will keep hold of him till after the court case, get all drunk drivers off the road I say ! he should testify

yahoobloo

Quite simply it means they`re forcing him to be a witness and they can hold him in custody until the trial is over. If he refuses to give evidence they`ll lock him up again. This only usually happens in very serious cases. Was someone killed by this drunk driver ?

DTap

he was an eye witness and has to show in court...if he didnt return the form he is refusing to show which gives them the right to arrest him until court is over...he will be released after court but it makes them think he did something too

call an attorney.

William D

its very possible the citation was for him to attend court for the trial of the drunk driver and from what you say he did not turn up the magistrate/judge then has an option of issuing a bench warrant for his arrest for failing to attend it is possible your boyfriend has been remanded in custody to ensure his attendance at court or there maybe other reasons the police have held him that he has not made you aware of

SunnyDays

I think BF has dumped you sweetheart, and he's using this as an excuse, a citacion only means he is presented with the summons face to face. he would have been allowed a phone call if he'd been arrested, don't you think he'd have called you, or if he'd spoken to a solicitor or his family, that they would have passed on a message? Have you called the station where he went? They can only hold him for anything for a short period of time before charging and either remanding him or bailing him....

Psychodelic Chicken

they might just hold him till he has given evidence.

kalokagathia

If he was called to testify as a witness this would be a subpoena - failure to comply would be contempt of court, and yes, he could go to jail for it (or be fined). Usually agreeing to comply would release him from liability though, so there may be more going on here than he is telling you.

If he is being held in police custody, it may be because he is refusing to testify - or it may be something more (was he involved in the crime somehow? or do they have reason to suspect that he was?)

If he is in police custody and he is not being released he is entitled to an attorney - and should have one. You can either hire one or if you guys cannot afford one, the court can appoint one (if he is being held in custody they must comply with his request for a court appointed attorney, if they fail to do so, you should seek out help from a legal aid society such as the ACLU because this would be a violation of his rights - you are in the U.S. right?)

The first step it sounds like is to find out if he is in police custody - if you cannot reach him on your own, call the police station - if they refuse to tell you, move on to the step of contacting an attorney or legal aid group to intervene for you.

Good luck!

mssumthinelse1

I've never heard of such a thing. It might be because he didn't send back the form that they are going to hold him to ensure he is in court.

Brian S

What I think:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZI3eHcwp9o

kokopelli

This seems a little odd. He is after all, only a witness, not the suspect in the case. How do you know he has not been let go? Maybe he HAS been let go and is using this as a cover to avoid YOU.

It's the same thing as people who survived the 9/11 attacks and then disappeared so the family could collect on life insurance.

Maybe he is using this episode to disappear from you...

I doubt if he is being held until there is a trial. After all, the trial might not be scheduled for weeks, or even months. If a warrant had been issued for not returning a piece of paperwork then most likely he could have been released by signing another piece of paperwork and paying a fine, probably for contempt. I think what he is trying to do is get a slip on you. Have you actually seen him in the slammer?

dustiiart

This sounds really odd...get the advise of legal council on this one...unless he was actually with the drunk driver I can't see why he's been detained, unless he has priors on himself that are resulting in this.

jenrulz13

try actually going to the local precinct that your boyfriend is in and ask them the same thing you have asked the users. i hope that it works out for the best. good luck....

johnny BROWN

There is a citation for contempt of court on me,will judge give me chance to get my witness together are what please let me know.what i need to do.

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