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Colorado Criminal Lawyer

Call (888) 519-6013 to speak with an criminal defense attorney.

Criminal law is a term used to describe prosecution by the government, whether on a local or a federal level, of a person for an activity that has been documented as a crime. Punishment, deterrence, incapacitation and rehabilitation are the four basic theories of criminal justice. These theories come from the notion that with penalties associated with specific crimes, society will be able to maintain a peaceful existence.

There are many different types of crimes, but the most of them can be split into two categories, misdemeanor and felony.

A felony is the most serious crime within the penal system. The general definition of a felony is any crime that is punishable by more than one year in prison, or by death. If a crime is a felony, the accused has the right to an attorney even if he or she cannot afford a private attorney. People who are convicted of felonies often have their natural rights more restricted than those who are charged with lesser crimes. Even after they have completed the sentence or punishment for their crime, they may not be able to vote, maintain employment in certain professions, or even serve on a jury. They may also be restricted from owning firearms or from serving in the military. Those who are convicted of felony sex offenses must register with their local authorities as sex offenders. Some sex offenders face further restrictions, such as a distance that must be maintained between themselves and a school or other facility where there are numerous children.

A misdemeanor is a less serious crime, and is usually punishable by a fine or jail time of less than one year. Those who have been convicted of a misdemeanor will not have their rights as constricted as those who have been convicted of felony charges.

If you have been accused of a crime in the state of Colorado, whether you are guilty or not, you will need to hire a Colorado criminal lawyer or attorney to help you with your case. Colorado criminal lawyers and attorneys, who typically have a private practice concentrating on criminal law, represent individuals who have been charged with crimes by arguing their cases in courts of law. If you are unable to afford the services of a private-practice criminal attorney, the court will appoint a public defender to your case.

If you have been involved in a crime and you have been arrested, you must request an attorney from the court or contact a private criminal lawyer or attorney immediately. There are many things to look for when hiring a Colorado lawyer or attorney. A good criminal attorney will, first and foremost, be intimately familiar with legal precedent, laws and statutes surrounding the crime of which you have been accused. They will have extensively studied case law in that area of criminal activity, and will therefore be able to defend you to the best of their ability. In addition to being well versed in court customs and procedures, your attorney will also spend significant amounts of time on your case, hire and manage investigators, and also research and gather vital information from prosecution witnesses.

If you are suing a convicted criminal for damages resulting from a crime, you will need to hire a civil lawyer or attorney. Even if the person was not convicted and you feel they should have been, and you want to sue them for damages -- you should hire a Colorado civil lawyer or attorney.

If you are ready to contact a Colorado criminal lawyer or attorney, visit the American Bar Association. The ABA features a lawyer locater, which can help you search for a criminal lawyer or attorney in Colorado. Access to the site is free.