Across the United States, there are approximately 10.5 million arrests made each year. This means that an arrest occurs every three seconds–but are they all fair?
Thanks to the Sixth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, criminal defendants have the right to be represented by an attorney. If a defendant facing prison or jail time cannot afford an attorney, the U.S. Constitution requires the state to provide legal representation for the defendant.
Criminal events can be very complex, especially concerning multiple charges and defendants. Anytime you are charged with a crime, it is in your best interest to hire legal representation in order to protect your rights and ensure you receive fair treatment while building the most robust defense possible.
If you have been charged with a crime and are in need of a criminal defense lawyer, contact us today for a free, no-obligation initial consultation.
For most people, the familiarity with the criminal justice system comes from movies, TV shows, and/or books. However, when personally involved with the criminal law system, real-life issues come into play, and the need for information and assistance can emerge quickly.
Criminal law is composed of issues that arise from criminal offenses. Criminal offenses are defined by federal, state, or local laws ranging from serious crimes, such as murder, to minor infractions, such as speeding. Within criminal law, there are criminal punishments, which are also established by statutory law, and are usually consistent with the severity of the crime. Minor offenses are only able to be punishable with fines or short-term probation. Depending on the conditions and jurisdiction, violent crimes can result in prison, life sentences, and sometimes even the death penalty.
A crime is an act or omission that establishes an offense that may be prosecuted by the state and is punishable by law. Most crimes are defined by statute and will differ across different states and counties. The Model Penal Code (MPC) provides a good outline of the most common types of crimes, while the U.S. Code provides a list of all federal crimes. For a list of crimes in your state or local municipality, check your local penal code.
To understand criminal law, there are a few terms that you should become familiar with:
The criminal justice system consists of the entire criminal process–from the investigation and arrest to the conviction and sentencing– and each person that plays a role in that process. These can include police officers, prosecuting attorneys, bail bondsmen, criminal defense lawyers, judges, witnesses, probation officers, and corrections officers.
During any stage of the criminal process, an individual suspected of or charged with a crime is entitled to specific fundamental rights from the U.S. Constitution and other court decisions. These include the right to an attorney and the right to a fast jury trial. These rights balance the government’s goal of identifying and punishing criminal behavior and the fundamental need to preserve and promote the individual freedoms that characterize a democratic society.
While specific criminal acts vary by jurisdiction, they can be broadly characterized as felonies and misdemeanors. As detailed above, felonies include more violent crimes, like murder and rape, and are punishable by imprisonment of one year or more. Misdemeanors are not as serious offenses and are punishable by less than a year of prison or fines.
Unless a crime is a strict liability crime, meaning that no mental state is required, statutes generally break crimes into two separate components: an act and a mental state. For example, these elements can be knowingly or recklessly. For a defendant to be convicted of a crime, a prosecutor must show that the defendant has met both of these components. For example, larceny is the taking of another party’s property with the intent to strip them of it indefinitely. With this example, if a defendant committed the act of taking the property and did so with the mental intention of taking another’s property, it would be possible to prosecute the defendant for committing a crime.
However, if a prosecutor suggests that the defendant committed a crime but is not about to prove each component of the crime, that is not enough to charge a defendant. A prosecutor must prove each element of a crime beyond a reasonable doubt for a defendant to be convicted. Police officers, prosecutors, and other government officials must also follow specific criminal procedures when pursuing illegal activity. This is because all citizens have constitutional rights that the federal government must both respect and protect. If these rights are not respected, there is the potential that it will prevent a prosecutor from obtaining a conviction in a case. The U.S. Constitution sets forth these rights and protections offered to defendants.
When a defendant goes on trial for supposedly committing a crime, a prosecutor must establish that the defendant is guilty of a crime beyond a reasonable doubt. However, simultaneously, the criminal defendant has the right to present a defense and can do so in many different ways. Numerous criminal defenses are available within criminal law that allow defendants to avoid punishment for their actions. Some of the most common criminal defenses include:
One category of defense that is available to defendants is arguing that they cannot be found guilty because they did not know where they were doing or that their actions were wrong. At its most serve, this can include the defense of insanity. The defense of insanity requires the defendant to prove that either they had a mental disorder that caused them to be incapable of understanding right from wrong or prevented them from controlling their actions and resisting violent impulses. In many states, the defense of insanity will keep defendants out of prison but require them to be held in a psychiatric facility for treatment.
Likewise, the defense of intoxication also relies on the theory that the defendant cannot meet all of the components of the crime because they did not understand what they were doing. If the defendant was intoxicated against their will, this could be a defense to both the general and specific intent crimes under the theory that the intoxication prevented the defendant from understanding right from wrong. Voluntary intoxication is another defense, but only to specific intent crimes when the defendant argues that their intoxication prevented them from forming the intent necessary for the crime.
Also, a criminal defendant can argue the mistake of law or fact. Under this defense, the defendant made a rudimentary mistake that negates a component of the crime. For example, a defendant charged with larceny can argue that he mistakenly thought the victim had given him the property. Likewise, mistake of law applies when a criminal defendant believes their actions were lawful; however, this defense applies in very few circumstances.
Another common defense category applies when the defendant committed the crime but argues that they were justified in doing so. Two of the most commonly recognized defenses under justification are self-defense and defense of others. A defendant can argue that he shot an intruder but did so to defend themselves because the intruder threatened him with a dangerous weapon. Similarly, under the duress defense, the criminal defendant argues that they only committed the crime because they were forced to do so by another person. For instance, a criminal defendant can argue that a co-defendant told him that the co-defendant would kill him if he didn’t commit the burglary. Lastly, the criminal defendant can argue that they committed the crime to prevent more significant harm under a necessity defense. For example, the defendant may claim that they needed to steal a car to chase down another individual who was threatening them with an explosive device. A similar defense is that of defense-of-property. The defense of property can be raised where the defendant used force or violence to protect property, like land or items, from damage or destruction. An additional limitation with the defense of property is the amount of force used to protect property can never be fatal.
Lastly, a smaller set of defenses can be used to argue that even though it may appear there was a crime, the defendant did not commit a criminal act. The defendant can claim that no crime occurred because of the defense of consent. For example, the defendant can argue that although sexual intercourse happened, it was not rape because there was consent. A criminal defendant can claim the defense of abandonment/withdrawal if they originally intended to commit or participate in a crime but have a change of heart and withdrew from participation. Another argument could be entrapment. Entrapment can occur when the government persuades an individual to commit a crime and then attempts to punish the person for it. The defendant can argue that no crime would have occurred without the government's persuasion, and they should not be held liable.
It is important to remember that not every criminal case will follow the same path. The steps in the federal criminal justice process described below are not all-encompassing. Some cases can be very simple and not involve every step, and others can be more complex and involve most or all of the steps in the process.
The federal government has agencies, such as the FBI, DEA, ATF, USSS, and DHS/HSI, that employ criminal investigators to collect and provide information to the U.S. Attorneys in the respective district. These investigators at these agencies will investigate the crime, obtain evidence, and help prosecutors understand the case. During this step, prosecutors will look for two types of evidence: direct and circumstantial. Direct evidence is any evidence that supports a fact without any interference. For example, testimony from an eyewitness would be direct evidence because the person physically saw the crime. Circumstantial evidence is a statement(s) or information obtained indirectly or not based on first-hand experience—for example, a testimony related to something that happened before or after the crime occurred.
After all of the evidence from investigators is gathered, the prosecutor will decide if the case should be presented to the grand jury. When a person becomes indicted, they are given a formal notice that it is believed that they committed a crime. The indictment is composed of basic information that informs the person of the charges against them. For potential felony charges, a prosecutor will present the evidence to an unbiased group of citizens called a grand jury. Witnesses can be called to testify, evidence is given to the grand jury, and a summary of the case is presented to the grand jury members. The grand jury listens to the prosecutor and witnesses and then votes on whether they believe that enough evidence exists to charge the person with a crime. They can decide not to charge the individual after receiving the necessary evidence, leading to no indictment from the grand jury. If a defendant is charged, they can hire an attorney of their choice or choose to be represented by an attorney appointed by the government.
After the individual is charged, either that same day or a day after, they will be brought before a magistrate judge for an initial hearing on their case. At this time, the defendant will be given their rights, learn more about the charges against them, be given an attorney (or choose an attorney), and the judge will decide if the defendant will be released or held in prison leading up to the trial. Sometimes, the law allows the defendant to be released from prison prior to the trial if they meet bail. If the defendant does not post bail, the judge can demand that the defendant remains in the U.S. Marshals' custody pending trial. The defendant will also have to plead guilty or not guilty to the charges at this point.
Before the trial starts, a prosecutor must learn as much about the case as possible. During the discovery phase, the prosecutor will talk to witnesses, study the evidence, and anticipate any issues that may arise during trial. At the same time, the defense attorney will be preparing in the same way. Both the defense attorney and prosecutor will call witnesses to testify. Prosecutors must also provide the defendant with copies of information and evidence that the prosecution intends to use during trial. This process is called discovery and continues from the time the case begins to the time of the actual trial.
If the government believes they have a strong case, sometimes they will offer the defendant a plea deal to avoid a trial altogether or reduce their exposure to a longer sentence. A defendant can only plead guilty if they committed the crime and admit it in an open court before a judge. After admitting to the crime, they can be “sentenced” by the judge presiding over the court (and only that judge). Sometimes the government will agree, as a part of the plea bargain, to not recommend an enhanced sentence, but ultimately it is left up to the judge to decide how the defendant will be punished. If a defendant pleads guilty, there will be no trial, but the next step is to prepare for a preliminary hearing.
An initial hearing will frequently be held as soon as the defendant pleads not guilty. The prosecutor needs to show that enough proof exists to charge the defendant. Preliminary hearings are not always required, and the defendant can choose to waive them. The preliminary hearing is very similar to a mini-hearing. The prosecution will introduce evidence and call witnesses to testify, and the defense can cross-examine witnesses. However, the defense cannot object to using specific evidence. In fact, evidence can be presented at the preliminary hearing that was not permitted to be shown to the jury at trial. The preliminary hearing will conclude with the judge scheduling a trial if they believe the defendant committed the crime, or they will dismiss the charges if they believe the defendant did not commit the crime.
One of the very steps before trial is for a prosecutor to answer or file motions. A motion can affect the trial, courtroom, defendants, evidence, or even testimony. Only judges will decide the outcome of a motion.
After a long preparation period, the prosecutor is ready for the trial. This is the process in which the facts of the case are presented to a jury, and they decide if the defendant is guilty or not guilty. During this period, witnesses testify, and evidence is presented against the defendant. The defendant will also be able to present his side, with the help of a defense attorney, also using witnesses and evidence. The prosecutor and defense attorney must choose a selection of jurors for this case to listen to the facts of the case and decide if the defendant committed the crime. Each side will go over opening statements, witness examinations, objections, and closing arguments during the trial. Following the closing arguments, the judge will inform the jury of the appropriate law and what they must do to reach a verdict. After being charged, the jury will go into deliberation and, after agreeing on a verdict, will notify the judges, attorneys, and defendant in open court.
If the defendant is found guilty and convicted of the crime, numerous motions can be filed after the trial. Those can include:
A couple of months after the defendant is found guilty, they will return to court to be sentenced. After receiving guidance from many sources, the judge will decide the defendant's sentence. The judge will consider many aggravating or mitigating factors, such as whether the defendant had committed the same crime before, whether the defendant seemed to regret the crime, and the nature of the crime itself.
If a defendant believes they were wrongfully convicted or the sentence was too cruel, they can appeal to the Circuit Court. An appeal is the opportunity to raise specific errors that might have occurred at trial. Appeals are often complex and result in the case returning to trial. Even after a circuit court judge decides an appeal, a defendant can try to appeal that decision to the United States Supreme Court in Washington, D.C.
If you have been charged with a crime and are in need of a criminal defense lawyer, contact us today for a free, no-obligation initial consultation.
Johnnie Cochran had long dreamed of creating a national law firm of men and women from all races, religions, creeds, and backgrounds to show how well we could all work together to make the world a better place. When famed criminal defense attorney Johnnie Cochran started The Cochran Firm, his mission was “a journey to justice.” Today, with more than 35 offices across more than 20 states, The Cochran Firm has well-earned its reputation as one of the nation’s most effective criminal defense law firms. The attorneys at The Cochran Firm work every day to fulfill Johnnie Cochran’s dream and continue that mission by working for our clients with the same work ethic and dedication to justice exemplified by Mr. Cochran himself.
The Cochran Firm is a diverse group of highly skilled and experienced lawyers that are dedicated to bringing high-quality representation to injured people and their families. Our experienced attorneys at The Cochran Firm are among the nation’s most recognized and successful criminal defense attorneys in the country. When navigating through the legal process, you deserve to have an experienced criminal defense attorney by your side. Our attorneys at The Cochran Firm know how to fight for you.
Here at The Cochran Firm, each of our attorneys is ready to help victims who have been charged with criminal offenses in Federal, State, Juvenile, and Military courts. Our attorneys work closely with each of our clients using pooled resources and their access to legal expertise to ensure the most effective legal representation available is provided.
You need the help of an experienced attorney who has proven successful results in other similar cases to guide you through the process and help you to receive the monetary damages you are entitled to under the law. The Cochran Firm’s results have been well documented and demonstrated both in the courtroom and at settlement conferences. At The Cochran Firm, we have the offices, the experience, the results, and the resources to aid clients throughout the United States.
If you’re looking for an experienced criminal defense attorney, please contact our attorneys at The Cochran Firm today for your free, no-obligation initial consultation. We serve the entire country with offices in many major U.S. cities.
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