A criminal attorney is a lawyer who defends an individual or a company who has been charged with some kind of crime which relates to the public as a whole, a wrong against society not against an individual. The lawyer’s job is to protect the rights of the accused and to make sure that they have a fair trial. If you are facing criminal charges a Criminal Attorney Philadelphia area may be able to help you.
A Criminal Lawyer Philadelphia represents a defendant who has been charged with felonies and misdemeanor crimes. A felony offense such as murder, rape, kidnapping or robbery is a serious crime and is punishable by up to a year in prison if convicted. Drug trafficking and child pornography are also felony offenses. A person charged with a felony also has the right to a trial by jury. Misdemeanor charges are less serious but are also punishable. Trespassing, speeding and public intoxication are examples of misdemeanor charges. The punishments most likely to be involved in criminal charges are fines, jail or prison time or probation. Alternative sentences like community service and rehabilitation programs have been used as punishments.
In criminal cases, a prosecutor is in charge of the case and the responsibility is up to the prosecutor to prove that the defendant is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. A criminal attorney will gather all of the facts possible to present to the prosecutor to show innocence or to build a case for possible acquittal. If innocence and acquittal are not possible, a criminal attorney can negotiate jail times or other punishments.
Finding a Criminal Lawyer in Philadelphia area who is experienced and knowledgeable is a must. The outcome from the criminal charges that you are facing will affect you for the rest of your life. Schedule an appointment with a number of different attorneys to discuss the charges that you may be facing. The initial consultation with an attorney is normally free. During this visit you will need to ask important questions to make sure that the attorney is experienced in representing a situation similar to yours. If you can’t afford an attorney in a criminal case one can also be appointed to represent you.
