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Oklahoma Criminal Lawyer

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

A criminal attorney should be the first person you call after being arrested. As a citizen of the United States, you have rights even if you are suspected of committing a crime. One of the most fundamental rights is to have an attorney to defend you. If you cannot afford a private criminal attorney, you will be assigned a public defender, who will take your case at no cost to you. Your attorney should be with you when you are questioned by police, as that is another right you have under the United States Constitution.

The definition of a crime is as 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 can vary significantly from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, with some crimes being classified as misdemeanors in certain locales and as felonies in others. Punishments for crimes can also vary depending on the jurisdiction.

Crimes include both felonies and misdemeanors. Felonies, which are the more serious of the two, include rape, murder, arson, grand theft and aggravated assault. Misdemeanors are less serious offenses, such as vandalism, prostitution, disorderly conduct, petty theft or simple assault. Some crimes can be charged as either a felony or a misdemeanor, depending on their severity. Additionally, they are also classes of felonies and misdemeanors, which means that there is an entire system of classification depending on the circumstances of the crime.

Having an attorney present during questions will ensure you do not incriminate yourself. Next, your criminal lawyer will attend your bail hearing. If the bail is unreasonable, your attorney will petition the court to have your bail reduced. If you cannot afford to pay your full bail, a bail bondsmen can get you out for a fraction of the total amount of bail, but there will be fees.

You may be released on your own recognizance. This is more likely if the crime is not violent, you are employed, you own a home and you are in good standing in your community. Bail is simply an insurance policy that you will return to court.

Next, you will be charged by the prosecutor's office. They must charge you within 72 hours, but the charges can be changed anytime thereafter.

If the prosecution wants to charge you with a felony, they must present the evidence either to a group of citizens called a grand jury, or before a judge in a preliminary hearing. Once you know the nature of the charges against you, your criminal attorney can lay out all your options and begin preparing your defense.

At every step of the arrest and trial, a criminal attorney will help you understand what is occurring, formulate the best plan for your defense, and do everything in his or her power to ensure that you are treated fairly within the justice system set forth by the United States Constitution. If you've been accused of a crime, contact a criminal attorney today. There is no such thing as a minor criminal charge. Any misdemeanor conviction can damage your record and potentially limit your employment opportunities. Felony charges can result in significant periods of incarceration and probation.