Charlotte Criminal Defense Lawyers

If you find yourself being served with a criminal warrant for arrest, you need the services of a good defense attorney.  While you will be offered a public defender, very often public defenders are overworked, overwhelmed and underpaid.  In short, while they will do the best they can for you, you will likely be better served by using a private criminal defense attorney.  Before hiring a defense lawyer, it is important to understand how the criminal court system works and what you are being charged with.

Misdemeanor Crimes

Criminal charges fall into two categories: misdemeanors and felonies.  Misdemeanors are usually lesser charges and carry a penalty that may include a fine and possible jail time.  Jail time for misdemeanors varies from state to state and in North Carolina, jail time for individuals convicted of a misdemeanor does not exceed two years.  Examples of misdemeanors include minor assault, indecent exposure, harassment via telephone (cursing, threatening), resisting arrest, public drunkenness and disorderly conduct.  Misdemeanors usually do not involve serious bodily harm and are less serious than felony charges.  However, being charged with a misdemeanor can be a somber event and should not be ignored under any circumstances, since problems will only escalate and become even more serious, possibly resulting in being sentenced to jail.

• If you have been charged with a Crime, Submit your Case for a Free Review from a Criminal Defense Lawyer in Charlotte. This website is for informational purposes only, and nothing stated here should be taken as legal advice.

Felony Charges

Felony charges are substantially more serious than misdemeanor criminal charges.  Penalties for felony crimes are much more severe than misdemeanors and include mandatory jail time ranging from three years in prison all the way up to life, and even the possibility of the death penalty for capital murder.  Examples of felony criminal charges include murder, rape, kidnaping, sexual assault on a child, armed robbery and aggravated assault.

Criminal Defense Attorney Experience

One of the largest factors in a successful criminal defense is a criminal defense attorney’s experience and knowledge.  Many defense attorneys actually begin their law careers as prosecutors.  For you, this means that they know the ins and outs of how the prosecutor’s office works and what burdens that prosecutor carries when trying a criminal case.  This knowledge and experience will work to your benefit when your defense attorney is working on developing your defense strategy and conducting their own criminal investigation of the events of the crime.  The defense attorney’s job is to provide you with the best defense possible using every means they have available within the limits of the law.  An experienced criminal defense attorney will vigorously and enthusiastically defend your legal rights.

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