Are you a law-abiding citizen? Most of us think we are decent law abiding citizens. But many of us have been prosecuted for some crime or misdemeanor or will face prosecution in the future. Misdemeanors are minor crimes such as traffic violations, possession of prohibited substances like small amounts of marijuana, petty theft etc. If you are not involved in a serious traffic violation you may be let off lightly with payment of fines. More severe traffic violations, possession of drugs, petty theft etc. might invite serious penalties and in some cases jail time. Unless you are advised by criminal lawyers, you may face jail time which you otherwise could have avoided. Most crimes consist of three elements: an act (actus reus), a mental state (mens rea) and the intent to do harm to others. In order to prove any crime, the prosecutor must prove that the accused committed the guilty act with guilty mind beyond reasonable doubt. If the prosecutor cannot prove this, then the criminal defense lawyers may successfully get your charges dropped or punishment reduced.
Driving under influence and reckless driving may result in serious punishments. If you are unwilling to abide the consequences of a conviction, your criminal lawyers might advise you to plea bargain for a lesser traffic violation. If your legal counsel thinks the evidence against you is insufficient and weak, you may be advised to plead not guilty. Expert criminal lawyers may get you exonerated or mitigate the charges against you.
The punishments awarded to the same crime may vary widely from state to state. Before 1990, the punishment for DUI in different states varied greatly. Drug related crimes are also treated differently. Some states treat possession of a small amount of drugs as a misdemeanor or medical matter while other states might treat the same offense as a serious felony. Felony convictions may result in lengthy jail terms, probations, substantial fines and restitution to victims, while misdemeanor crimes might lead to much lighter jail terms and fines. Traffic violations and other minor crimes may be treated separately from misdemeanors in some states. This third level of relatively minor crimes is known as infractions and may result in loss of driver’s license and fines but no jail time. If you are unaware of the laws of your state you might not know the punishments you may be liable to face. For correct information on the criminal laws in your state you need the advice of criminal lawyers. Manassas residents can consult the advice of experienced attorneys to settle their cases.
Criminal Lawyers Manassas – If you are looking for criminal lawyers, Manassas residents can visit the Law Offices of Glenn S. Wainer, for advice on felony and misdemeanor charges. Law Offices of Glenn S. Wainer, offer personal attention to resolve your legal issues.
