The Collin County District Attorney’s Office will begin its Pre-Indictment Program (PIP) on July 20, 2006. PIP will target certain non-violent felony cases for pre-indictment pleas. By doing so, PIP will insure adequate jail space for violent and repeat offenders, and allow prosecutors to focus more time on those types of offenders.

PIP will initially target State Jail and Third Degree Felony drug possession cases filed by the Plano Police Department and Wylie Police Department. Drug test results on those cases will be obtained on an expedited basis and emailed to our Intake Division within 14 days. The division will then determine whether the defendant named in the results is eligible for PIP, and if so, contact the defense attorney and  summon the defendant to appear before Judge Curt Henderson on the following Thursday afternooon. At that time, the defendant will be given an opportunity to plead prior to indictment. Inmates who choose to plea prior to indictment could shorten their jail confinement by up to 120 days.

On or before October 1, 2006, PIP will expand to cover additional drug possession cases, as well as other non-violent felony offenses listed in the Guidellines for Pre-Indictment Program (PIP) (see below). The plea bargain offers shown in the Guidelines are non-negotiable. The length of community supervision and fine amount will be increased in post-indictment plea bargain offers. Likewise, a defendant who does not plead prior to indictment should not expect a later offer of deferred adjudication.

We welcome participation by other defendants, whether in jail or on bond,  who are not automatically eligible for PIP. Attorneys should contact Assistant District Attorney Paul Anfosso at (972) 548-4477 or panfosso@co.collin.tx.us if their clients wish to plead prior to indictment.

Guidelines for Pre-Indictment Program