What You Can Expect From The Legal Process

Author: Christopher

If you are confused with the criminal process, it is with good reason.  It is complex.  As a drug crime and sex crime attorney in Winston Salem, NC, I can help. Steps in the process include:

• Stop—The police may stop you for questioning.  You have the right to refuse to answer.
• Search—If probable cause exists, a judge can issue a search warrant to look for items connected with the alleged criminal activity.  Warrants are not necessary for all searches.
• Arrest—In order to be arrested, there must be probable cause that a crime was a committed and that you committed it. You have two important Constitutional rights: the right to remain silent and the right to an attorney.
• Booking–Following your arrest, the police escort you to the police station for the booking process and you will be fingerprinted, interrogated, searched, and photographed
• Appointment of an attorney—If you cannot afford an attorney and you have been charged with a crime punishable by imprisonment or a fine, an attorney may be appointed to defend you
• Arraignment—You appear in court once criminal charges are filed and you will be asked to enter your plea to the crime with which you have been charged. In North Carolina, this includes guilty and not guilty. If you plead guilty, you will be sentenced without trial.
• Bail/bond—Cash, a bail bond, or court-depending, a pledge of property to ensure you appear for further criminal proceedings
• Speedy trial—The U.S. Constitution guarantees the right to a speedy trial, that is, a trial will be held within a certain time frame after you have been charged
• Trial—If you do not reach a plea agreement with the prosecutor (many prosecutors will consider one), your case moves toward trial.  Depending on the charges, you may have the right to a trial by jury.
• Appeals—In the event you are found guilty, you have the right to an appeal, usually ten days after judgment
• Expungement—In some circumstances, you may be able to have your criminal record removed, or in the case of juvenile records, destroyed

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/criminal-articles/what-you-can-expect-from-the-legal-process-2153548.html

About the Author

Winston Salem crimes lawyer is a board certified specialist in state and federal criminal law by the North Carolina State Board of Legal Specialization. He has earned the recognition of his peers in Martindale-Hubbell®'s Peer Review Ratings™, an honor given to a mere 14 percent of lawyers in America. He has been profiled by several publications including the Winston-Salem Journal, Qué Pasa, and The Advocate, and has appeared in WXII TV 12 video interviews as a legal expert.  Winston Salem attorney focuses his practice on all types of criminal defense cases, including but not limited to sex crimes, drug crimes, and white collar crimes.