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Mississippi Criminal Lawyer

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If you have been accused of a crime, you need the services of a criminal lawyer. You have many rights in the United States, including the presumption of innocence until you are proven guilty in a court of law. It is the job of the prosecutor's office to prove to a jury or a judge that you are guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

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. Criminal law cases should not be confused civil cases, that involve individuals and organizations seeking to resolve legal disputes. In a criminal case, a state prosecutor initiates the suit, while the victim brings the suit in a civil case. There are some other differences between the two kinds of cases, including the fact that civil cases have much lower standards of proof, since the individual\'s liberty is not at stake. Additionally, those found liable in a civil case will not face incarceration, but can be required to relinquish property or pay restitution.

Crimes can be categorized as either felonies and misdemeanors. Some crimes can be both a felony and a misdemeanor, depending on the severity of the crime; for example, theft can be grand theft (a felony) or petty theft (a misdemeanor). Some felonies can be pleaded down to a misdemeanor, and some crimes which are usually charged as misdemeanors can be upgraded to a felony charge if the individual has a lengthy criminal record. Generally, however, the penal system defines a felony as a crime which is punishable by one year or more in a federal or state prison, and a misdemeanor as a crime which is punishable by less than one year in a county jail.

Felonies include but are not limited to aggravated assault, rape, torture, kidnapping, murder, espionage, grand theft, tax evasion, racketeering, fraud and arson. Misdemeanors include but are not limited to petty theft, simple assault, prostitution, vandalism, disorderly conduct, drug possession and driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

When a citizen of the United States is charged with a crime, they enter a usually overcrowded system full of complicated procedures and laws. Whether or not you are guilty, if you have been charged with a crime you need a criminal lawyer to represent you in court and to fight on your behalf. An experienced criminal law attorney can communicate with the prosecutors' office and try to negotiate a plea deal, or investigate your case and present it in court. They can also ensure that your rights are protected and if they believe that the state has failed to protect your rights, your attorney can argue for dismissal of your case.

There are many things at stake when you are facing a conviction: jail or prison time, fines and fees, and probation or parole. Although you are legally entitled to represent yourself in court if you wish to, this is probably not the best course of action. The legal system is complicated, and best left to the professionals. A criminal attorney can evaluate the circumstances of your case and determine whether a plea deal may be appropriate. In a plea deal, the prosecution offers you a lesser charge or reduced sentence in return for the fulfillment of some sort of requirement sometimes a plea of guilty, sometimes the completion of a rehabilitation program.

If a plea deal is not a possibility, your lawyer will make sure that you have the strongest defense case possible going into court. It's the responsibility of the prosecution to prove that you are guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Your attorney will attempt to plant seeds of doubt in the minds of a jury. She or he will fight hard on your behalf in order to secure the most successful outcome.

If you have been charged with a crime in the state of Mississippi, contact the Mississippi Bar Association today in order to find a qualified criminal law attorney who can help you navigate your way through the legal system.