The defendant has pretrial conditions of release that are set by a judge. The defendant can get out of jail by satisfying these conditions, which may include the posting of a bond.

There are two resources you may wish to review. You can access the Mecklenburg County Sheriff's online inmate inquiry search to determine whether a defendant is still in custody at the Mecklenburg County Jail. You may also visit the North Carolina Department of Public Safety’s website to learn more about the Statewide Automated Victim Assistance and Notification (SAVAN) program. The SAVAN system is a service through which victims of crime can use the telephone or Internet to search for information regarding the custody status of an offender and to register to receive telephone and email notification when the offender’s custody status changes. The toll-free number for the North Carolina SAVAN system is 1-877-627-2826.
Note: These websites and services are not associated with the DA's Office, however, you may contact the DA’s Office at 704-686-0700 if you have questions or concerns about a defendant’s release from jail.

The trial date for District Court (misdemeanor) cases is set in courtroom 4130 for a date several weeks after the defendant is arrested. Court dates in Superior Court are handled on a different timeframe, and victims will be notified of those court dates.

You will be subpoenaed approximately three weeks before the trial date. You may be subpoenaed by phone, mail or in person. If anyone tells you that the court date has changed, you should contact the DA's Office at 704-686-0700 to confirm that information.

The DA's Office does not dismiss charges at the request of a victim or witness. The Assistant District Attorney assigned to the courtroom on your court date will make all decisions regarding whether to proceed with the prosecution of the defendant. You should come to court as subpoenaed, and you will then have an opportunity to discuss the matter with the Assistant District Attorney.

The judge has the authority to issue an order for your arrest and an order for you to show cause as to why you did not appear as directed by the court through the subpoena.

For information about getting a restraining order, you may contact Safe Alliance at 704-336-4126 or visit Safe Alliance’s website. A restraining order is issued in civil court, and an Assistant District Attorney does not represent you or appear in civil court. The Assistant District Attorney prosecutes criminal actions in criminal court (such as criminal violations of a restraining order). If you have a restraining order, and the defendant violates the terms of the restraining order, you should contact the police immediately.

Call us at 704-686-0700 and ask to speak to a domestic violence legal assistant.

If you have suffered a physical injury that caused you to have medical expenses, or if you have lost wages because of this incident, you may be eligible for compensation from the State of North Carolina through the victims’ compensation program. There are requirements and restrictions. The DA’s Office does not administer this program. You may call 1-800-826-6200 or visit the North Carolina Crime Victims Compensation Services’ website for more information

New Options for Violent Actions (NOVA) is a program that defendants may be ordered to complete as a condition of probation. Click here to learn more about the NOVA program.

That is solely your decision. If you decide that you want to talk to the defense, be sure to tell the truth.

If you move or change your phone number, it is very important that you immediately let the DA's Office know of this change. Call a domestic violence legal assistant at our office at 704-686-0700.

See Map & Directions for more information.