Criminal Defense Attorney
by: vernita.lacomb.palm
Date: Mon, 26 Jul 2010 Time: 6:40 AM
A criminal defense attorney, simply defined, is lawyer whose specialization lies in the defense of a person or a company that has been charged with criminal conduct. His role is to act on behalf of the accused person by offering adequate representation to his client
in a court of law. In the United States (US), these criminal lawyers are referred to as attorneys. In Britain, they are known as criminal defense counsels.
In the US, there are various degrees of crimes for which a person can be held liable. One can be charged with a misdemeanor, a felony, a federal crime, or a state crime. A misdemeanor is a minor offence for which a person, if found guilty, can be punished with a fine or jail time that does not exceed one year. A felony, on the other hand, is a more serious crime that warrants a jail sentence not less than a year, and may even warrant a death sentence. A state crime occurs when one acts in breach of state criminal laws while a federal crime is an offense made illegal by US Federal legislation or one that takes place within US federal property.
A person convicted of a misdemeanor retains certain rights, such as the right to vote, the right to be part of a jury, as well as the freedom to practice any licensed profession. In case of jail time, such a person serves that time in a local, city or a county jail. A case involving a misdemeanor does not require a jury trial. A jury trial only becomes necessary where a felony accompanies the misdemeanor. A person convicted of a felony, loses a number of his rights and freedoms, such as the right to vote, the freedom to participate in a licensed profession, or even the right to participate in a jury. A jury determines the accused person’s case. People convicted of a felony serve their sentences in a state or federal penitentiary.
Regardless of the crime one is charged with, the need for a criminal defense attorney is paramount. Besides ensuring that an innocent person is not convicted unfairly, the criminal attorney also helps the client through the various legal procedures
set. Each type of crime is different, and as such, the expertise of a criminal attorney comes in quite handy when working through any legal hurdles that would otherwise be catastrophic for any accused person.
The attorney may also enter a plea bargain on behalf on the client especially where the accused person is deemed culpable of the offense. The career of a criminal defense attorney is often a successful one in spite of the toll it has on the accused, especially in terms of time and money.
Criminal defense attorneys truly keep the mantra ‘innocent until proven guilty’ real, especially for the innocent. Visit our website for more information on http://www.joffelaw.com
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