subject: What do you do if you or someone you know is charged in a criminal case? [print this page] What do you do if you or someone you know is charged in a criminal case?
What do you do if you or someone you know is charged in a criminal case? Well, it depends on the stage of the criminal case. For example, if the defendant was just arrested, your first priority is to try and post his bond. Be sure and find a reputable bondsman. The next step is to hire an attorney.
Know that criminal cases come in all shapes and sizes, from misdemeanors to felonies. Murder, theft, assault, drug possession, and sex offenses are crimes, as are DWI, white collar offenses, and fraud. Crimes in Texas fall under the categories of misdemeanors and felonies. Within these categories are subcategories, such as Class A misdemeanor or first degree felony. These subcategories determine the range of punishment. Some offenses, like murder, do not allow for probation as a possible sentence.
Houston criminal attorneys know the legal landscape of Houston criminal cases in Harris County, Texas. The Harris County Criminal Justice Center mostly consists of criminal defense attorneys from the Houston area. Why? Because, aside from their geographical proximity to the criminal courts, these criminal lawyers have at least some general familiarity with the criminal justice process in Harris County, Texas.
Just how much familiarity the criminal lawyer has depends on his experience, qualifications, and knowledge in the area of criminal defense. Board Certification is a good indicator that a criminal attorney knows his area well. Only a small percentage of attorneys has met the rigorous requirements of being Board Certified in Criminal Law.
A good Harris County, Texas lawyer will not only investigate the facts but the law. A Houston criminal attorney, for example, will do a research in order to find a case that could boost the client's case. A DWI attorney will investigate the case, go to the scene of the DUI or DWI stop, and analyze and interpret the evidence thoroughly. Apart from appearing in court, the Houston defense lawyer spends a good deal of time investigating the case. This investigation, be it a DWI or fraud or drug case, involves interviewing the client.
A Houston defense lawyer you choose should be caring, fighting and winning. These are essential because a lawyer you choose should be caring for you and should understand that you have been caught up in the worse situation of your life. The Houston DWI and defense lawyer should be committed and should never lose sigh of his goal of doing the most he can to reach the best result. After all, the defendant wants to win.
At the end of the day, you need to hire the best Houston criminal lawyer that you can afford. While you may think you cannot afford to hire a particular lawyer, the fact is that you cannot afford NOT to hire a good lawyer. At stake, after all, is the defendant's freedom, reputation, and dignity. This is not some dispute over a property line or painting the house the wrong color.
