You’ve been arrested and charged with a crime. The first thing you should do is hire a criminal lawyer in Towson to help you. By hiring a criminal lawyer, you’re giving yourself a better chance at having your charges dropped, getting a not-guilty verdict, or even having your sentencing lowered. Your lawyer can even help you navigate the legal system and explain every step to you. Before you hire a lawyer, though, you may want to familiarize yourself with some of the common terms used for criminal cases. This will help you to understand everything that is happening with your case, without having to ask your lawyer each time. Some of the common terms in criminal cases are:
Defendant – This is the person accused of committing the crime.
Prosecutor – Crimes are usually cases against the state, so the prosecutor is the state’s legal representative. They’re the lawyer who is trying to prove you are guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Defense Attorney – The defense attorney is the lawyer representing you, the accused criminal. They’re who you will hire to be your legal representative.
Misdemeanor – When you’re charged with a crime, and the crime’s punishment is usually a year or less in jail, the crime is considered a misdemeanor. This is the least severe of charges.
Felony – Crimes with a sentence over a year long are considered felonies. This can be theft over a certain amount, murder, assault with a deadly weapon, drug trafficking charges or more.
Conviction – The conviction is the guilty verdict, if the judge decides that you are guilty.
Treatment with Conviction Withheld – Instead of having a conviction, some people may be eligible to complete a treatment program and then the conviction will be dropped. This is usually for cases involving drugs or alcohol.
By understanding these terms, you’ll be ready to discuss your case with your lawyer. They’ll review over all the information you give them, collect the necessary evidence for your case, and then begin working towards a good outcome. Whether that’s having your sentence lowered to the minimum amount or having your charges dropped altogether, you’ll be able to confidently work with your Criminal Lawyer in Towson. If you need more information about criminal cases, you can Visit the website of your lawyer.
