If you are served with a criminal warrant for your arrest, you are probably confused, concerned and want to get the best help available to get you out of jail and keep you permanently out of jail. Finding a good criminal defense attorney is one of the first steps, but it is also important to understand what your rights are in the criminal court system.
Criminal Court Process – Initial Hearing
As both a commonwealth (Massachusetts is a commonwealth as a state) and as part of the United States, you are entitled to certain rights and processes. The first right includes the right to fair representation and the right to know what you are being charged with. Usually the charges will be stated when you are arrested. You will also be brought in front of a judge for what is known as an arraignment hearing. At this hearing, the charges will be read and you will be offered a public defender, if you would like one. You are often better served by using the services of a private criminal defense attorney. At the arraignment, you will be asked to submit a plea (guilty or not guilty) and a bail amount is usually set.
- If you have been charged with a Crime, Submit your Case for a Free Review from a Criminal Defense Lawyer in Baltimore. This website is for informational purposes only, and nothing stated here should be taken as legal advice.
Criminal Court Process
The next stages of a criminal proceeding include a preliminary hearing, where evidence is presented to determine whether or not there is enough proof to support the possibility that a crime happened and to identify the likelihood of a trial. During the period of time between the initial hearing and the trail, your attorney may meet with the District Attorney’s office about various elements of the case or to negotiate a plea. At any time during this process, your defense attorney may also be successful in convincing the District Attorney to drop the criminal charges entirely.
Felonies and Misdemeanors
In Massachusetts, crimes fall into two categories, felonies and misdemeanors. Of the two categories, felonies are considered the most serious of crimes and include criminal charges such as murder, rape, kidnaping, arson and burglary. Conviction of a felony usually results in prison time and also in loss of the right to vote and other rights. Misdemeanors are less serious crimes than felonies, but are still serious all the same. Examples of crimes considered misdemeanors include possession of small drug amounts, OUI (aka DUI/DWI), disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, petty theft and trespassing. Penalties for misdemeanors can include jail time of up to two and a half years.
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