If you are facing felony charges, you may be alarmed and overwhelmed and wondering what it means for you. Felony charges are significant because they can carry more severe punishments than their counterpart misdemeanor charges. When faced with them, you should understand how to defend against felony charges.
What are felony charges?
Felony charges are considered the most serious in the criminal justice system. Felony charges can result in harsh prison terms, costly fines and the permanent loss of other freedoms such as voting rights and the right to own a firearm.
As opposed to misdemeanor charges, which may be punished by a shorter sentence in jail, felony criminal charges can result in decades in prison. Examples can include 4 years in prison for delivering 5 kilograms or fewer of marijuana or completing a fraudulent credit card or loan application; 10 years in prison for embezzlement; or 15 years in prison for robbery. Writing a bad check for less than $500 or domestic violence charges can result in a sentence of 2 years in prison.
With so much on the line, it is critical that the rights of the accused individual are protected. Any violation of your rights may factor into your criminal defense strategy. Developing a criminal defense strategy as soon as possible is essential.
A felony charge can change your life in an instant. There are several different opportunities in the criminal defense process to present your defense or argue for a lighter sentence. A knowledgeable defense attorney can help you fight the felony charges you are facing at every phase of the process.