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Ohio Criminal Lawyer

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United States citizens enjoy a fair and decent justice system. There are safeguards in place which aim to protect innocent people from wrongful prosecution. If you have been charged with a serious crime, you can hire a criminal attorney to represent you and to protect your rights. A criminal lawyer can help you defend yourself in a court of law.

If you have been arrested, or charged with a crime, in the state of Ohio, it's important to secure the services of a qualified Ohio criminal lawyer attorney as soon as possible. Criminal law, which is also known as penal law, is the process by which the government charges and prosecutes a person for an act which has been classified as a crime.

A crime can be defined as an act which is in violation of a public law forbidding that act. Crimes can also be omissions of acts that are expressly commanded by law for example, the payment of taxes. 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 among different jurisdictions, as well.

Different from criminal cases are civil cases, which involve individuals and organizations seeking to resolve, and be awarded restitution for, legal disputes. In a criminal case, a state prosecutor initiates the suit, while the victim brings the suit in a civil case.

There are two kinds of crimes, felonies and misdemeanors. Felonies carry a more severe punishment, including the possibility of life imprisonment or even the death penalty, because they are typically more severe crimes. Felonies include murder, arson, rape, aggravated assault, and similar crimes. Misdemeanors are less serious crimes, like simple assault, petty theft, prostitution, trespassing, burglary, and public intoxication.

Upon arrest you will be charged by the arresting officer, who will take into account the circumstances and evidence, as well as what they believe can be proven in court. After your immediate arrest, the prosecutors' office will review the case. They then have 72 hours to charge you these charges may be the same as, or different than, the initial charges brought by the arresting officer. They can also be changed at any time after that.

The next steps in the criminal case are booking and bail, arraignment, the preliminary hearing or grand jury indictment, and pre-trial motions. The trial comes next, during which the evidence for and against you will be presented, and witnesses will testify.

There is a chance, especially if you live in a city that has an overcrowded criminal justice system, that you will be offered a plea deal, or that your attorney can negotiate a plea deal. For example, a plea deal may offer reduced charges or a reduced sentence in exchange for a guilty plea. You may get the chance to reduce your felony to a misdemeanor through drug counseling or completion of an alcohol education program. Your attorney can help you decide what is in your best interest, but it is ultimately up to you.

Your attorney will evaluate your case, interview you, gather evidence and line up witnesses, and bring all of his or her experience to bear in deciding how best to proceed. Should your case go to court, he or she will argue in front of the jury on your behalf, file all the necessary motions, and research possible precedents or similar legal cases that may have a bearing on yours. In short, your criminal attorney will work hard to protect your rights and ensure that justice is served. If you've been charged with a crime, whether or not you are guilty, contact an experienced, professional Ohio criminal attorney today.