Are you facing criminal charges? Have you or a known person been arrested lately?
If so, there must be a number of questions troubling your mind. It doesn’t even sound easy to be charged with criminal defense law. Although, you might want to clear all those common questions and get an Orlando criminal lawyer as soon as possible to stay safe.
There are some common questions every person troubles themselves with while convicted with criminal defense law in some way.
1. Will I go to jail?
The most common yet important question that messes up our minds the most.
It all depends on the criminal charges you are convicted of. Those charges severity will define if you will go to jail or not. If you are facing misdemeanour charges then the chances are that less likely that you will go to jail. However, in case of felony charges and you are found guilty then you will have to spend some time in jail or prison.
2. What Is The Difference Between A Misdemeanour And A Felony?
All crimes are distributed between a felony and misdemeanour charges.
The basic difference is that misdemeanors are lower-level crimes as compared to felony charges. In the case of a misdemeanour, the jail time might be for a year or shorter. As for felony, the time of prison will be longer.
Common types of a misdemeanour include:
- DUI
- Petty theft
- Marijuana
- Domestic violence
- Probation violations
Common types of a felony include:
- Auto theft
- Kidnapping
- Sex crimes
- Drug crimes
- Manslaughter
- Assault & battery
- Weapon crimes
- White-collar crimes
- Murder
3. What Could Be The Penalties If I Am Convicted?
The penalties are based on the type of crime convicted.
If it’s a misdemeanour crime, it will result in probation, fines, community service, and a year in jail, licence suspension or a mark on your permanent records.
If it’s a felony crime, it will result in at least a year or more in prison. The fines will be higher and everything will be twice or thrice as compared to misdemeanour charges. All those will be stricter and tougher.
4. What Is Meant By Expungement?
A legal process of clearing a person’s criminal record.
However, the only thing that can’t be expunged will be your criminal conviction record. It is an option to crave when you are convicted.
