If you have ever been charged with a crime or received a serious traffic violation and gone to court, you may have heard of a stet. Most people do not know what a stet is.

A stet means that the State's Attorney can agree to place the case on the inactive docket. So long as certain conditions are met, the stet will usually never be reopened and your case will never be tried. After three years, you can then get your record expunged. A stet is different than a plea deal because with a stet, the case is never brought to trial.

A stet can be reopened for any reason within one year or for good cause between one and three years. Note that a stet is rarely reopened by the State unless you violate a condition of the stet. Conditions of a stet may include community service, counseling, anger management, no contact with the victim, or restitution.

If you agree to the stet, you give up one important Constitutional right. That is the right to a speedy trial. This is because the case is being placed on the inactive docket and will not be brought to trial.

The judge must approve the stet. It is unusual for a judge to reject a stet where all parties agree.

In certain cases, the State may agree to reopen the stet after a period of time and drop the charge by entering a nolle prossequi. This allows you to get your record expunged without waiting the three years.

A stet is a way to avoid a trial and possible conviction. It is often a good way to resolve your case.