FAQ

When you are facing a criminal charge, whether a misdemeanor or a felony, your future stands at serious risk. Not only do you face the prospect of jail time, fines, and probation, but if you are convicted you will also carry with you a permanent criminal record that can make such things as obtaining employment, educational opportunities and housing problematic. A lawyer can make sure that your legal rights are well-protected and that a strong defense is mounted on your behalf. Going it alone in the criminal justice system can put you in peril of many unwanted consequences.

If you find yourself crossways with the law, you have important rights that must be protected. First, you have the right to be informed of your rights by police should you be arrested. You have the right to remain silent, which can help you avoid self-incrimination. You also have the right to avoid subjection to an unreasonable search and seizure. Perhaps most importantly is your right to an attorney, and should you face criminal investigation or arrest, you should be in immediate contact with a Columbus criminal defense attorney for knowledgeable and skilled legal counsel.

The short answer to this question is yes. Our legal system, though endowed with powerful rights and time-tested procedures, is far from perfect. Proclaiming yourself innocent is far from a legal defense, and you will need the assistance of an experienced attorney to gather information and refute evidence. It is a sad fact that innocent people are sometimes convicted of crimes they did not commit. If you have been arrested, a team member from The Meranda Law Firm LTD, serving both Columbus and Newark, can go to immediate work on constructing a strong defense and on seeking to have unfounded charges dropped.

The types of penalties you could be dealing with will differ depending on the specific offense. For example, if you have been charged with OVI or DUI, a penalty specific to that offense is the loss of your driving privileges for a certain amount of time. You could also have an ignition interlock device placed on your steering wheel. If you have been accused of a sex crime, a penalty you could be facing is a permanent place on the sex offender registry. This registry is open to the public and contains information regarding your offense as well as personal details.

Each state and jurisdiction has different punishments and consequences for crimes, so the answer to this question is not always clear cut. Generally speaking, a misdemeanor offense cannot carry with it a jail term of more than one year and often times may only involve probation, fines and other forms of restitution. A felony crime can carry prison sentences greater than a year, and bring with them much steeper consequences. Regardless of the offense, convictions for crimes committed past the age of 18 will be carried on your permanent criminal record and can lead to future difficulties.

f you have been accused of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, is it possible to fight your charges? Many people believe that their case is hopeless and that there is nothing they can do to get their charges dropped. Nothing, however, can be further from the truth. By challenging the results of the breath test, blood test, or field sobriety test, you could get this alleged evidence thrown out of court if it can be shown that the administration or interpretation of the test was faulty. (See Related Posts: Can You get Arrested for Having Weed in Your System?, What are the Penalties for Drug Charges?, or learn more about Drug Crimes)

What should you do if you have already been convicted of a crime and have received your sentence? If you believe that justice was not served, your first step should be to contact our firm to see if we could help you appeal your case. Not every attorney takes on appeal cases they can be more complex and time-consuming than other cases. At The Meranda Law Firm LTD, however, we are committed to fighting for the rights of our clients, no matter how difficult the case. If you want us to look over your case, please contact our team as soon as possible.

Another question you will have to consider when deciding which defense lawyer to handle your case is whether or not you can afford it. At The Meranda Law Firm LTD, we want to be able to provide reasonable rates to our clients so that you can get the help you need. In order to give you an idea of how much it will be, we will meet with you in a free consultation and discuss what kind of fees you could expect.

No parent wants their child to have to go through an ordeal like being arrested. When these situations do occur, it can be difficult to determine what the best course of action would be. The juvenile justice system is different from the adult justice system and so it is important that you have a legal representative who understands the juvenile system and can help you get through this time. Whether your child has been accused of DUI, a drug crime, a misdemeanor, or a felony, you will be able to have peace of mind knowing that we are there helping you every step of the way.