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Hawaii Criminal Lawyer

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

A criminal attorney represents an individual who has been accused of a crime in a court of law. Crimes can be categorized as felonies and misdemeanors, depending on the seriousness of the act, and the punishments will vary correspondingly. In either case, a Hawaii criminal lawyer attorney will provide local legal representation, and will be proficient in criminal law and state-specific guidelines in order to help a defendant to obtain a fair verdict in court. In the absence of professional guidance, persons misinformed about the court system may end up facing jail time or serving a longer sentence, one which is not equivalent to the crime committed.

Criminal law, also known as penal law, involves prosecution by the government of a person for an act that has been classified as a crime. A criminal case should not be confused with a criminal case, in which an individual or group files suit to seek restitution for a crime that has been committed. In a criminal case, a state prosecutor initiates the suit, while the victim brings the suit in a civil case. A 'crime' is any act, or omission of an act, in violation of a public law forbidding or commanding it.

Though there are some common law crimes, most crimes in the United States are established by local, state, and federal governments. Criminal laws vary significantly from state to state, and crimes include both felonies and misdemeanors. Felonies are more serious crimes, such as rape, arson, kidnapping, aggravated assault and/or battery, espionage, fraud, racketeering, embezzlement and murder. Misdemeanors are less serious offenses like petty theft, simple assault or battery, disorderly conduct, vandalism, trespassing or jaywalking.

In the event of a violent act such as assault, the law takes a stand based on the circumstances that led to the crime, such as whether the physical force was used as an act of self-defense for protection from another person(s), or even to protect one's property. In such cases the defendants will have to prove beyond a reasonable doubt why they needed to defend themselves in such an extreme manner.

The criminal lawyer will have to show the judge or jury that the confrontation was unprovoked by the defendant, that the accused was in immediate danger of bodily harm and the use of force was necessary in preventing that harm, and that the degree of the physical force used was reasonable under the circumstances. Also the lawyer may need to prove that the violence used was improper and directed at the accused without his/her consent.

Persons who are charged with a criminal offense must be aware that seeking a professional criminal attorney as soon as possible is very important to begin prepared for court proceedings and the trial once the charges have been filed. A good criminal attorney will have a better sense of what the accused should or should not say to the law enforcement officers to avoid being misinterpreted, and prevent such instances being used in court during the trial. The lawyer can also advise the accused on the bail process.

Experienced Hawaii criminal lawyers will utilize all available resources such as forensic experts, private investigators, drunken driving evaluators, as well as representatives from rehabilitation facilities in drug-related cases, to ensure that the defendant receives a fair trial. In short, there really is no substitute for a qualified Hawaii criminal defense lawyer.

You can visit the website of the American Bar Association to begin your search for a qualified Hawaii criminal attorney if you have been accused of a crime. Remember that your attorney will do his or her best to defend you, no matter whether you are guilty or not.