Charges of criminal contempt of court are serious and should be dealt with immediately. Both criminal contempt charges and civil contempt charges are significant, although criminal contempt charges carry a much greater weight than civil charges. Accusations of criminal contempt result in various penalties. In addition, it can be difficult to distinguish between criminal contempt of court and civil contempt of court.

The judge presiding over the case is the one who carries the right to give contempt of court charges. Civil contempt charges may be in order when a defendant (a contemnor) fails to comply with a mandate given by the court. The failure must be purposeful, and it results in a monetary fine and/or a jail sentence. The contemnor can choose to adhere to the court's directives at any time and can be assured of being released from jail.

Criminal contempt accusations result from the contemnor's perceived efforts to hinder a just outcome in the court case. A contemnor could be accused of criminal charges by behaving in an aggressive or openly menacing way toward the judge. In addition, if the defendant refuses to comply with a court order to bring forth proof as verification to certain claims—or if the defendant's attorney does not appear in court for the scheduled hearing—the judge may decide to charge the defendant with criminal contempt of court. Addressing the judge improperly can also result in criminal contempt charges. Indictments of criminal contempt of court have a disciplinary nature. A person who is charged with criminal contempt will bear the responsibility and weight of that offense even after the current case is closed. Criminal contempt charges are decisive and unyielding, and the contemnor will not be released from jail upon obeying the court orders.

It is also important to note the difference between direct contempt and indirect contempt charges. Direct contempt charges may be incurred if the defendant overtly disrespects the judge or the court system while in the court. Indirect contempt charges are enforced for the defendant's behavior outside of the court, and these charges follow the defendant's attempts to manipulate situations and decisions.

Because the line between criminal contempt of court and civil contempt of court is often challenging to distinguish, you may be suddenly facing unjust charges. The difference between civil contempt charges and criminal contempt charges could be extremely consequential for your future. Since the determination between the two types of charges can be somewhat arbitrary, you could be facing life-changing penalties due to unwarranted charges. In addition, criminal contempt charges are not simply an add-on to the original criminal accusations; on the contrary, they are additional charges. Before you have time to react, you could be facing multiple accusations of criminal offenses.

It is of the utmost importance that you address your charges immediately because criminal indictments can have a life-long and life-altering impact on the contemnor. Criminal charges often result in lofty monetary fines, prison sentences, or both—not to mention the loss of certain rights and privileges. These are significant consequences that you want to avoid. You should not be frightened or overwhelmed by your situation, because help is just around the corner. When you secure the reliable and dedicated support of a criminal defense lawyer in your area, you can rest assured that your case will be well cared for.

If you have found yourself in this situation and are wondering where you can find assistance you can rely on, you should immediately obtain the help of an aggressive criminal defense attorney near you. Criminal contempt charges are weighty and are best fought by a knowledgeable and experienced lawyer who understands the severity of the situation and knows how to successfully combat your indictments. Don't wait any longer to obtain the legal defense you need today.