Criminal offense is definitively an act that violates certain set codes of moral and social behavior and/or breaks public, personal and social laws formed by the Government. Often, criminal charges comprise of levels of severity, the least being simple infractions, punishable by petty fines or warnings. These are called “non-criminal” criminal offenses. Severe crimes punishable by imprisonment include misdemeanors and felonies are handled DUI Attorney.

Almost Every Type of Criminal Offense Follows the Same Justice Protocol.

• The first step is the arrest of the person charged with a crime. If caught with any evidence at the scene of the crime, the police officials can arrest the person then and there. However, for later arrests, a legit arrest warrant needs to be produced.

• The second step is booking the accused for the crime and placing the person under police custody. The accused can arrange a lawyer at this point.

• The third step is the bail. The accused can get a temporary release by paying the bail amount, along with the assurance that they will produce themselves in court on the specified date and time. Most cases allow bail, but extreme cases of assault and multiple accusations are non-bailable.

• The fourth step is the arraignment, the preliminary proceeding in the court, where the accused is read out all the charges against him and is given the chance to claim responsibility or plead ‘not guilty’. If the accused is unable to procure a lawyer, but still claims not guilty, the court shall appoint a defense attorney for the accused.

• The next step is the court trial. It involves the prosecution and the Criminal Defense Attorney representing the accused, producing evidence and witnesses against and for the accused respectively in front of an unbiased jury and judge. The trial period can span from just a few hours to almost decades. Within this time, for bailable offense, the accused can return home, for non-bailable offense, the accused needs to be in police custody.

• The final step is the Sentencing. The judge reviews the information from both parties and takes the vote of the jury into consideration to announce a verdict.

• If the accused is still sure of their innocence and the evidence is not tock-solid, they can ask for an appeal, where the case is pushed to the higher court and the trial resumes.

Being charged with a criminal offense, no matter the severity can be very daunting. Hence, if you will need a good criminal defense attorney. Attorney Mark Stephen Lowry is an experienced criminal defense attorney who can represent you in the case and help you get the best possible outcome.