Criminal defense attorney

18. Criminal Defense Attorney

Crimes happen due to a plethora of reasons. Regardless, there is a need for legal representation to handle these cases. Here, we will walk you through who a criminal defense attorney is, what a criminal case is, and other related factors.

Who is a Criminal Defense Attorney?

A criminal defense attorney is a barrister who specializes in criminal law. S/he can be a lawyer appointed by a criminal court or jurisdiction to bring justice. These lawyers are known as public defenders. They focus on implementing justice by assisting those who lack legal representation in front of the court. Here, the court could also select public prosecutors on a rotational basis.

Apart from public prosecutors, there are independent criminal lawyers and those who work for a law firm. They can also offer you service for a discounted or reduced price based on your circumstances.

In simple terms, a criminal defense attorney will look into several types of cases that come under the criminal niche. These include arrests, criminal charges, post-trial issues, appeals, sentencing, etc. You can approach a criminal lawyer before there are any charges filed against you. You can get the required legal advice and find out how to take the case forward if you get arrested.

What is a Criminal Case?

A criminal case differs from a civil case as the government brings it in front of the court. In civil cases, individuals or businesses affected would take it forward. Here, the person would have to undergo punishments, such as fines, jail time, etc. However, the court serves them based on their crime, intensity, and other matters.

Generally, there are three types of criminal cases- infractions, misdemeanors, and felonies.

Now, let's look at each one in detail:

1. Infractions include cases related to traffic rule violations such as speeding and tailgating. Non-serious offenses like littering and fishing without permission also come under criminal cases. Here, the punishment is often in the form of a fine that you have to pay to the government for violating the rules.

2. Misdemeanor refers to crimes that aren't as dangerous as felonies but those that can result in jail time. Here, you can get an imprisonment of fewer than 12 months. Apart from this, other punishments for misdemeanors are community service and fines.

3. Felonies are serious offenses where the punishment will be one year or over a year. Here, there can be scenarios where the court can decide your offense is punishable by death. There are different classes of felonies, and for instance, class one felony includes posing a threat to murder a person. As part of felonies, there are serious crimes like causing property damage, burglary, arson, drug abuse, etc.,

These are the three types of cases that come under criminal offenses in the US. Therefore, if you face a situation where you could end up in jail, it is essential to get legal representation. If you don't have the financial capabilities to hire a criminal defense attorney, your court can furnish one to help you with the case. Here, your annual income has to be 125% less than the federal average, or the court has to declare you indignant.

What Can A Criminal Lawyer Do for You?

A criminal lawyer can provide numerous services, ranging from legal advice to help you with negotiations. Here are some of them:

1. Your criminal defense lawyer can provide you with details on the charges filed against you. S/he can guide you through how to take the case forward and present you with possible outcomes.

2. Your lawyer will provide information on the consequences of the case and look into details on available defenses to help you.

3. The lawyer will craft strategies after investigating your case and studying it. S/he will prepare you for the trial so that you won't have any issues while facing the court.

4. Your lawyer will perform negotiations on your behalf to bring settlements.

5. Your lawyer can help you with the documentation associated with the case. Here, s/he will gather information and look into the legal rules to ensure that you receive a judgment amicable for you.

These are different ways a criminal defense lawyer can handle your case. If you don't have the financial ability to hire a lawyer, the court will provide you the service of a criminal attorney for free.

How Can You Find a Criminal Lawyer?

There are different approaches to finding a trustworthy and reliable criminal lawyer. Here are a few of them:

1. References can work well, especially while finding a criminal lawyer. Here, you can ask people whom you are close to or even your acquaintances if they know a criminal lawyer. If you don't want them to know about your situation, you can reach out to another lawyer who you know personally. This lawyer might not be practicing criminal law, but s/he might have contacts with whom they can refer you.

2. You can try contacting your local bar association, as they will maintain directories of lawyers practicing in your region. Through this, you can find a list of local criminal defense attorneys. You can also learn more about their expertise and see if there have been any disciplinary actions against the lawyer.

3. You can rely on the Internet to find different databases and listings to discover criminal lawyers practicing in your region. However, these resources aren't 100% trustworthy. Therefore, you have to perform individual research after shortlisting some attorneys.

4. You can use the phonebook or the yellow pages to locate law firms or individual lawyers practicing criminal law. You can then connect with them personally or over the phone to learn more about their services.