CRIMINAL LAW & CRIMES:

Criminal matters can be confusing, stressful, and, if not handled properly, can cost you a lot of money and even result in the loss of your freedom.

The criminal process is complex. Criminal cases often involve issues such as the use of deadly force, entrapment and police duress, false or mistaken identification, and lack of mental commpetency and insanity.

Our criminal attorneys are experienced in handling all types of criminal cases, including: To contact one of our experienced criminal law attorneys, simply complete the short case submission form.

 

























 
 








Cost of Crime

The cost of criminal cases often include attorneys fees, restituion, penalties, and court costs. Luckily an experienced criminal lawyer can help minimize these costs.

If the accused cannot afford to hire a criminal defense attorney, a public defense attorney will be assigned the case. Public defense attorneys range in competence from young aggressive criminal lawyers who are out to make a name for themselves to "middle of the roader's" who are simply out to settle as many cases as possible. While you might think that the aggressive criminal lawyer would be the best, the reality is that it is important to have "the right lawyer" for your case. Some cases require an aggressive criminal defense; others require a more compromising defense.

Restition is the means of which victims of crime recoup at least part of their loss. Often this entails an up front payment or, if the criminal is granted probation or parole, it may entail periodic payments over the course of the probation or parole sentence. The amount of restitution that courts order can be unreasonable and unrealistic. Without an experienced attorney, those charged with criminal violations increase the chances that a vigalentee judge or jury will award such restitution.

Penalties and court costs also vary by crime, based on the facts of the case, the financial means of the crime victim and offender, and the individual judge or jury's personal beleifs. An experienced attorney can help to eliminate most of these cases by foregoing unnecessary tests, examinations, and court hearings and by expiditing the resolution process.

An experienced criminal defense lawyer can help the accused navigate these waters. If you or a loved one has been arrested or charaged with a crime, is imperative that you contact an experienced criminal defense attorney immediately. To contact one of our experienced criminal lawyers, simply complete the short case submission form.

 







































 
 








Loss of Your Freedom

The bottom line in criminal cases is "do I have to 'do any time'?" The possible legnth of prison or jail time varies depending on whether the crime was prosecuted by the federal or state authorities, the type of crime committed, and the characteristics of the crime victim and offender.

The federal system is based on a set of criminal sentencing guidelines, which require judges to adhere to certain standards. Thus, under the federal system a lot of what an experienced criminal defense attorney will do is to massage the information that is contained in the court's pre-sentence investigation report, as that is the report which helps the judge select the correct sentencing range from the sentencing guides.

Some states have also adopted a system similar to the federal sentencing guidelines; however, the vast majority have not. In most state criminal justice systems, each crime is either classified as a felony or misdemeanor and each being assigned a range of punshments.

For example, the state may have a first degree felony, second degree felony, and third degree felony. The first degree felony may include a range from life to 20 years in prison, the second degree felony may include a range from five to 10 years in prison, and the third degree felony may include something like 90 days in the local jail up to 5 years in prison. Similar ranges are assigned to misdemeanors, with lesser sentences of course. Unlike the federal system, state judges often have wide discretion to depart from the sentencing ranges -- either by finding the offender guilty of a lesser offense (by finding that certain elements of the more serious crime have not be established) or by simply imposing a lesser sentence.

An experienced criminal defense lawyer can help the accused navigate these waters. If you or a loved one has been arrested or charaged with a crime, is imperative that you contact an experienced criminal defense attorney immediately. To contact one of our experienced criminal lawyers, simply complete the short case submission form.

 







































 
 








Criminal Process

The criminal process begins with an investigation or arrest. This is the most critical time for those who are suspected of having committed a crime. At this point the police or agents have a lot of discretion.

The investigation process is meant to gather enough evidence to establish probable cause that a crime has been committed and to tie the person being investigated to that crime. This may involve a few questions during a traffic stop or collecting evidence at a crime scene. Once there is enough evidence establishing probable cause, the police have the right to detain suspects for further investigation or to get a warrant to detain a person or persons or search for more evidence. If the evidence establishes something more than mere probable cause, then the police can make an arrest.

There are some very specific rules as to what police can and cannot do during this investigation and detention period and what they can do after an arrest has occurred. In many cases the police use this arbitrary line between investigation and arrest to do things that they could not do if an arrest had been made or if an arrest had already been made. The police are well versed in these techniques.

After the arrest, the accused will find themselves being processed by the court system. This system consists of an arraignment, entering a plea (of guilty or not guilty), the appointment or verification of legal counsel, pre-trial hearings, settlement agreements, and then possibly plea hearings or a criminal trial.

Once sentenced, the convicted find themselves in the "criminal corrections system." This system consists of various institutions, such as treatment and rehabilitation centers, work and career counseling centers, probation departments, jail, prison, and even parole. Once someone is in the "system" they can be shuffled between these institutions for many years to come.

If an experienced criminal defense lawyer is brought in early enough in this process, they are often able to prevent the process from cycling through to each phase.

If you or a loved one has been arrested or charaged with a crime, is imperative that you contact an experienced criminal defense attorney immediately. To contact one of our experienced criminal lawyers, simply complete the short case submission form.

 







































 
 








Use of Deadly Force

The law requires that police use "reasonable force." "Reasonable force" is generally defined as just enough force necessary to counter the force of a suspect or other individual. Police can only use "deadly force" where it is necessary to protect the lives of the police or others.

Unfortunately, there are numerous instances where police have been found guilty of illegally used "deadly force." If an officer is caught using deadling force when it was not called for, the officer will be subject to being arrested and charged with assault or even murder. Moreover, the police officer can be held civially liable for false imprisonment and even for wrongful death.

If you or a loved one has been subject to "unreasonable use of force" by police, is imperative that you contact an experienced criminal defense attorney immediately. To contact one of our experienced criminal lawyers, simply complete the short case submission form.