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Nebraska Criminal Lawyer

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

If you have been charged with a serious crime, you need the services of a competent, experienced criminal attorney to represent you. A serious crime can be a misdemeanor or a felony. Many times a less serious felony charge can be reduced to a misdemeanor through community service or successful completion of court ordered treatment.

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 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.

Criminal cases should not be confused with civil cases, which involve an individual or organization suing for damages or reparations. In a criminal case, a state prosecutor initiates the suit, while the victim brings the suit in a civil case. There are also lower standards of proof for civil cases, since the defendant's liberty is not at stake. When someone is found liable in a civil case, they are usually ordered to pay by the court, but do not face incarceration or other loss of liberty. The punishments for criminal cases vary, of course, depending on the crime, its severity, the jurisdiction in which it is being prosecuted, the criminal's remorse, and the sentencing judge. Nevertheless, there are some common guidelines which are usually followed, and which in fact help determine whether a crime is a felony or a misdemeanor.

Felonies are defined as serious crimes, which are punishable by more than one year's incarceration in a federal or state person. Misdemeanors, or less serious crimes, are considered punishable by less than a year's worth of jail time, in a county or local jail. However, most first-time misdemeanants will not face any jail time, but will instead pay a fine.

Felonies include, but are not limited to, rape, aggravated assault, kidnapping, murder, arson, embezzlement, espionage and fraud. Misdemeanors include but are not limited to disorderly conduct, driving while intoxicated, drug possession, prostitution, simple assault, and robbery.

A criminal attorney can tell you that there can be a big difference between a misdemeanor and a felony. A felony follows you throughout your life and can affect your ability to gain housing or employment. Although a misdemeanor is still serious, will not be required to list it on employment or housing applications.

In either case, a criminal attorney can still help you at every step of the process, from arrest and arraignment to jury trial and sentencing. A criminal attorney will take a look at all the facts of your case and determine the best route to take, whether that is a plea deal or a jury trial. In a plea deal, you may be able to reduce your charges or your sentence, upon completion of some program or probationary period, or in exchange for pleading guilty and saving the expense and trouble of a trial. Your attorney, who is familiar with not only the law, but also court customs, prosecutorial bias, and statutory precedent, will be able to advise whether a plea deal is a good route to take.

Should your case go to trial, your attorney will mount the best defense possible, using all the available means evidence, interviews with witnesses, and his or her extensive knowledge of state and federal laws. The attorney will tell you what to expect at your trial, and can argue your case before the jury.

Having this experience on your side is priceless, so contact a Nebraska criminal attorney today.