Desk Appearance Ticket
Posted on Jul 21, 2010 12:08pm PDT
In the City boroughs such as Brooklyn, Manhattan and Queens, police have the discretion to issue a Desk Appearance Ticket to an individual charged with a crime in certain situations. A Desk Appearance Ticket, also known by the acronym of DAT may be given to an individual charged with a Misdemeanor offense, and even a Class E Felony, where it represents an accuseds' first arrest.
Given the above, I most often see desk appearance tickets issued to individuals charged with the following crimes:shoplifting and drug possession charges, where the quantity involved is relatively small.
Often times, individuals given a Desk Appearance Ticket may be able to have a favorable disposition, such as an ACD or a non-criminal disposition, such as a violation negotiated on their behalf with the help of an experienced defense lawyer. If an ACD is achieved as a disposition, an individual's RAP Sheet will not disclose a criminal history. If a violation, such as 240.20, disorderly conduct, is offered and accepted as a disposition, it will likely be sealed pursuant to CPL 160.50. However, an accused should be aware that if they have been given a DAT, they have in fact been arrested and accused of committing a crime.
If you have received a Desk Appearance Ticket to appear in criminal court you should contact an experienced Criminal Defense Attorney as soon as possible, to protect your legal rights.