Criminal law involves the process by which individuals
(and in some instances, businesses) are alleged to
have violated certain rules that have been enacted to
protect members of society. The rules of the federal
government and all individual state governments are
codified into statutes. When an individual violates
the rules as listed in the statutes, then the federal
government or the state may prosecute the alleged
wrongdoer. However, the wrongdoer is presumed innocent
until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Criminal defense is all about making sure the alleged
wrongdoer’s rights are not violated and ensuring
that the prosecutor meets that burden of proof before
a punishment is doled out. If the prosecutor cannot
meet that burden of proof then the alleged wrongdoer
must be found not guilty of the alleged violation.
Some alleged violations are more serious than others.
Misdemeanors are generally considered more minor
infractions, while felonies are typically much more
serious. However, in any situation where the possible
punishment could be incarceration, the accused is
entitled to a jury trial. A jury decides the facts of
the case, while a judge decides the law that applies
to the case. In some instances an accused may only be
entitled to, or may prefer to, have a judge decide all
the issues in a case. That is called a bench trial. If
a person is found guilty of the crime he or she was
accused of committing a judge will decide the proper
punishment. Typically, the judge is guided by certain
sentencing guidelines that have been prescribed by the
legislature. In “capitol” cases a jury may be
asked to decide if a convicted murderer is eligible
for the death sentence.
Those who are accused of a crime are entitled to have
an attorney represent them. They also have a right to
remain silent so that their own words are not used to
incriminate them.
If you or a loved one has been accused of a crime,
call Attorneys911 at our toll free
number, (800) 300-0001 or submit
an online questionnaire. The initial consultation
is free of charge, and if we agree to handle your
case, we will work on a contingency fee basis
(excludes Criminal Cases), which means we get paid for
our services only if there is a monetary recovery of
funds. In many cases a lawsuit must be filed before an
applicable expiration date, known as a statute of
limitations so please call right away to ensure that
you do not waive your right to possible compensation.
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Personal Injury Attorneys is not formal legal advice nor the
formation of an attorney client relationship. Our California law
firm handles law suits in the areas of and around sate including
Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego, Long Beach, San
Francisco, San Jose, Sacramento, Riverside, San Bernardino. We
handle cases statewide.
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