Basic facts about lawyers

If you are accused of a crime the first thing you should do is find out the type of crime you have been accused of. This is important because this will affect the kind of legal representation you look for. There are different types of crimes that are ranked by their seriousness. They can be divided into four categories. The first is called petty misdemeanor, which is a non-criminal offense and the maximum penalty amount is $300 with no jail time. The second type is called a misdemeanor. The punishment for this crime can be up to 90 days in jail and /or a fine of $1,000. Gross misdemeanor is the third type and an accused is put behind bars for a year and/or has to pay a fine of $3000. The fourth type of crime is a felony. A person charged with a felony can be jailed for over one year according to the crime and/or be fined $3,000.

Any individual charged with any type of crime has the right to hire a lawyer. If he or she fails to do so because of economic reasons then the State is responsible for providing him or her with a lawyer. The accused does not have an obligation to speak about the offense or divulge any details to the people investigating the crime. He can speak in front of a lawyer and anything that is said is confidential.

Everyone accused of a crime has rights. For example, the accused has the right to a lawyer and to be judged by a judge or a jury depending on the charges. In a trial the State has to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the person is guilty. In a jury trial you must have all the members agree to the punishment. The State will have to furnish witnesses against you and you have the right to question them. A person accused of a crime has the right to subpoena witnesses to come to court on a specific date and testify. The accused can stay silent throughout the trail and no one can force him to speak, not even the judge. A person can be given punishments like prison term, fines, community service, house arrest, anger management, DWI education etc. In addition, he or she may also have their driving license suspended, be prohibited from owning firearms, be registered as a predatory offender, or have their professional licenses revoked.

It is a good idea to choose specialized attorneys to fight your case. For instance, if you are accused of white collar crimes then it is advisable that you hire white collar specialists. However, there is one man you can trust with any type of case. Robert Callahan is a Chicago based criminal lawyer. If anyone can get you out of dangerous situations, it is Robert Callahan. For more information go to www.defenselawyersite.com/legal_specialties.html.