7 Cities Department of Justice

DOJ Information/SOP

This document explains the ins and outs of DOJ RP. if you plan to take your RP to this level, you should be sure to read everything on this page in order to ensure you are prepared for what may come.

​

​

Your Rights in the DOJ

 

1. You Have the right to remain silent.

2. You have the right to have an attorney present while being questioned.

3. You have the right to a trial.

   1. You do not have the right to a trial by jury.

   2. You have a right to a speedy trial.

4. You have a right to knowledge/information pertaining to you.

​

​

Setting Up a Court Case

There are a few ways a case can be set up and initiated. This section will explain them and how you would go about setting them up.

​

Obtaining Case Documents.

• In order to file a case, you will need to obtain a document.

  • These can be found in the court house store

• To use the document, simply slide to use in your pockets.

  • Select the option you need and fill out the form accordingly.

  • Don't forget to sign it at the bottom when completed.

• Once filled out, you can make a copy of it with the portable copier

  • Also found in the court house store

• If the document is needed for a case, be sure to rename the document to the case number.

  • The court mailbox is located outside to the right of the main court house doors.

​

Criminal Court Case.

• In a criminal court case the paperwork is filed by the state prosecutor.

  • You will not need to do anything aside from show up with your legal defense.

    • You may also receive a subpoena to appear before the judge.

  • Keep an eye on your phone emails as this is where case information will be sent once your case is finalized.

  • Criminal cases will take place on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays after 7:30pm est.

    • It is your responsibility to be on time and dressed appropriately. You never know what exact time your case will be called.

​

Civil Court Case

• To file a petition for a civil case, you or your lawyer must submit documentation for the case to be seen.

• Keep an eye on your emails as this will be where you will be notified if your case will be heard.

  • If you are the defendant in this type of case, you may receive a subpoena to appear.

• Civil Cases are held on Tuesdays and Thursdays after 7:30pm est

  • It is your responsibility to be at in the court room at this time as you don't know what case will be called first.

• Examples of civil court cases....

  • Person Vs. Person

  • Person Vs. Government

  • Business Vs. Business
     

​

Magistrate Hearing

• Magistrate hearings are there to ensure law enforcement officers are being fair and just in their sentencing.

• Any sworn in judge can act as a magistrate.

• To initiate a magistrate case, Leo will bring you to the court house and read your charges to the judge.

  • Your lawyer may be present for this to defend you if needed.

• The Magistrate will be the one who determines sentencing or if there should be any at all.

  • if the case meets criteria, the case will be submitted to the criminal court for trial.

​

Bail

• This is an extension of the magistrate decision

• If your case will be going to trial, you will have the option to post bail.

  • The amount of the bail is determined by the magistrate.

  • Before being released on bail, payment must be made.

    • Individual/Suspect: 100% must be paid.

    • Bail Bonds: 10% of the amount must be paid to the bail bonds.

      • While only a percentage is to be paid to the bail bonds, the bail bonds must pay 100% to the court.
      • If suspect does not return to court while expected to, bail bond will not receive any of the funds back

        • The bail bonds company also has the ability to have 90% of the bail amount  returned to them if they take the suspect back into custody and bring them to jail.

    • The bail bonds company is responsible for ensuring the suspect comes to court at their court case.

      • The bail bonds company has rights to secure payment as they see fit within the law of the land.

​​

​

Case Discovery

This section explains how to pass along information between parties for a case.

​

What is Discovery

• This is what it called when parties involved in a case share information between each other to ensure a case is handled properly.

  • When a case is set up, a channel will be made in discord with all representing parties to pass information.

  • You are permitted o use other means, but this is the best and easiest way.

• Requesting Information: You can request information to be sent to you during a discovery period.

  • While everyone has a right to information pertaining to them, it can still be denied by the opposing party.

  • In this case, you will need to file a motion to the court to have a subpoena demanding the information.

    • If it gets to this point, the judge must determine if the request is lawful as well as determine if the request relates to the case at hand.

• Evidence Submission into case: After discovery, you can decide what evidence you want to submit to be used in the case.

  • Each item must have a unique name when submitted into the chat in order to keep organized.

    • EX: Casenumber plaintiff/defendant evidencenumber would look like (321P001)

    • That number would be what you use to bring up the file on the TV in the court room.

    • Photos must be PNG format, videos must be MP4 format.

​

​

Case Flow

This section will explain what is to be expected when you are involved in a case. All cases will not have a straight forward flow as anything could come up and change the course of the case. Everyone involved is expected to do their best to follow case flows.

​

Preliminary Hearing

• A preliminary hearing is first step in a case where you are actually in front of a judge in a formal setting.

• This is the chance for both side of the case to argue why the case should move to trial.

• It is up to the judge to determine if going into a full on case is worthy of the courts time.

  • If it is determined its not, the case will be closed and both sides are expected to reach a settlement outside of court

  • If the judge determines it should go to court, a date will be set and a time to return to the court room.

    • In some cases, this can be right after depending on time, scheduling, and case preparedness.

• This will be the also be the time for each side of the case to present any motions to the court for the judge's approval.

​

Opening Statements

• Opening statements are where both sides of the case can present why the judge should rule in favor of their clients.

• In this flow, the Plaintiff will go first, followed by the defendant.

​

Case Arguments

• This part of the case is where each side will have the opportunity to present evidence and argue their side of the case.

• This can go back and fourth for however much time may be needed.

  • This will go on until both sides of the case state that they "rest".

  • If the case is taking a a lot of time, a motion to continue at a later date may be presented by not only each side of the case, but by the judge.

• This will also be each sides chance to call witnesses to the stand.

  • The court will not wait for witnesses.

  • If they are not there when called on, the case will move on.

​

Closing Arguments

• This is your chance for a last ditch effort to persuade the court to rule in your favor.

• This part of the case can only happen after each side has rested their case.

• You will not be permitted to call any witnesses or show any more evidence once the case hits this stage.

• The defendant will present closing arguments first followed by the prosecution/plaintiff.

​

Case Ruling

• This part of the case is where the judge and/or jury makes their final decision in the case.

• No side will be permitted to speak during a ruling unless asked questions by the judge.

​

Case Sentencing

• This part of a case will only come about in a criminal case

• It will sometimes be combined with the ruling to save time and appearances.

• Please note the different types of sentencing that can come from this...

  • Jail- A Judge can sentence you to up to 3 times the max sentence of LEO.

  • Fine- A judge can fine you up to 3 times the max fine of LEO.

  • Community Service/Parole- A judge can sentence you to up to 20 CS tasks.

​

​

Courtroom Decorum

This section will explain how you should behave in the court room to ensure things go according to schedule and is professional. Not following this section could have you removed from court

​

Attire

• When you come to the court room, you are expected to dress in an appropriate manner.

  • The typical attire is Business casual.

 

Weapons and Contraband

• You are not permitted to bring any weapons or contraband into the court house.

• You could face confiscation and prosecution if you attempt to do so.

• Everyone entering the court house is subject to search by Law Enforcement.

​

Be Respectful​

• Do not talk out of turn

  • Each side will have their chance to speak. You do not get to decide when that is.

• Follow orders given by the judge.

  • Not following orders could result in you being in contempt.

  • This could also end with you being arrested.

• Be respectful of the judge.

  • When the Judge enters, you rise, when the judge exits, you rise.

• Stay seated

  • The only person permitted to stay standing is the person who has the floor.

  • The only exception to this is law enforcement who are not involved in the case.

    • They can stand on the side.

    • Will also see them stand up at the bench as the bailiff.

​

Legal Dictionary

The following is a collection of terms you are expected to know when practicing law or presenting litigation to the court. They are of course many more, but these are common ones you will find in our settings. More will be added as they come up

​

Plaintiff

• Person/Party that filed the petition for the case to be heard

Defendant

• Person/Party who a claim/case is filed against.

Affidavit

• A written statement confirmed by oath or affirmation

Agent

• Person/Entity to act on behalf of another person/entity.

Aid and Abet

• When someone incites,encourages, or counsels another in the commission of a crime.

Alias

• A name someone goes by aside from their given name.

Alibi

• Information that places a defendant away from the location of a crime/incident

Allegation

• A claim or assertion that someone has done something illegal or wrong but has not been proven as fact.

Appeal

• Procedure allowing a higher court to review alleged errors committed at the trial court level

Arraignment

• Procedure whereby a criminal defendant comes before the court to hear the charges filed against them and enter a plea.

Arrest

• Taking into custody a person to answer to accusations of criminal conduct

Arrest Warrant

• A written document issued by a judge based upon probable cause to allow law enforcement to make an arrest.

Bail

• Security, usually monetary; required by the court to guarantee the defendant's presence at trial.

Bail Bond

• A contract between a licensed surety and the defendant for the payment of bail.

Bench Warrant

• process issued by the court itself to arrest someone, usually for breaking court rules or not being present for case.

Beyond reasonable Doubt

• Legal burden of proof required to affirm a conviction in a criminal case.

Charge

• An accusation of a crime by a formal complaint, information, or indictment.

Claim

• Ant demand to recover damages from a governmental entity as compensation for injuries, or a right to payment.

Claimant

• The person/entity  asserting a claim through civil action.

Contempt

• Conduct or words disruptive to the orderly administration of justice.

Contract

• A legally enforceable exchange of promises.

Convict

• To find one guilty of a criminal charge as a result of a trial or plea.

Copyright

• The right to a particularly expression o ideas such as literature, music, art, names, etc etc; the right to control its reprinting or usage.

Damages

• Monetary amount recoverable in a civil action to compensate one who has suffered loss, determent, or injury

Decision

• The courts findings of fact and conclusions of law.

Defendant

• Civil. One against whom a lawsuit is initiated.

• Criminal. One accused of a crime.

Due Process

• Rules of procedure necessary to ensure a fair and just trial.

Evidence

• Proof such as testimony and tangible objects offered during a trial or hearing for the purpose of proving or disproving some fact.

Exhibit

• A document or other tangible evidence produced during a trial or hearing.

Expunge

• To ease, as authorized by law, information contained in a record.

Hearing

• A legal proceeding before the court in which testimony is presented.

  • Preliminary, plea, suppression, trial, sentencing, etc.

Hearsay

• A statement that...

  • The declaration does not make while testifying at the current trial or hearing.

  • Information from other people that cannot adequately substantiate.

  • A rumor.

Immunity

• Exemption from liability

Judgement

• A final decision or order from which an appeal may be taken ' the final determination of an action.

Motion

• A formal application to the court seeking an order or relief.

Notary Public

• A bonded public officer who may administer oaths and affirmations, receive the proof or acknowledgment of all instruments of writing relating to commerce and navigation.

Objection

• Protocol for requesting the court to rule on the admissibility of a particular question, statement, or exhibit.

Perjury

• To deliberately make false statements under oath.

Plea Bargain

• A negotiated plea between the prosecuting entity and the defendant but subject to the court's approval.

Probation

• A period of time whereby a defendant is not in incarcerated but must abide by certain terms and conditions imposed by the court.

Recess

• A short break ordered by the court during the course of a trial.

Sentence

• Punishment imposed by the court upon criminal defendant who has been convicted.