Whiddon Criminal Defense, Criminal Defense Attorneys in Louisiana Fighting Criminal Charges on Behalf of Clients

If you have a felony or misdemeanor on your criminal record and believe it’s keeping you from finding a job or home, you should consider expungement. This legal process allows you to get a conviction removed from your record, assuming you meet specific qualifications and the offense is eligible for expungement. The result is that landlords and employers won’t be able to see your conviction on a background check once it’s expunged. An expungement attorney can let you know if this option is right for you.

If you’re arrested for driving while intoxicated, the penalties you face will depend on how many DWIs you have on your record. If it’s your first DWI, you’ll have to pay fines, lose your driver’s license for up to six months, and face jail time or probation and community service. The penalties get more severe the more DWIs you have on your record, so expect to lose your license for several months and spend time in jail for a second or third DWI. You’ll need a Shreveport criminal defense attorney on your side to fight this charge.

No attorney can guarantee specific results, but most will try to help their client avoid incarceration whenever possible. They can do this by advising clients not to admit guilt to the police, ensuring they don’t miss court hearings, and preparing them for trial. A skilled Shreveport attorney also understands criminal law well enough to know the possible penalties for each offense, so they can negotiate the charges or ask for sentencing alternatives from the judge. All of this can typically reduce or prevent serious penalties like jail.

If you were charged with a drug crime, you might wonder how serious it is. This usually depends on the type and quantity of the drug, as this gives the prosecution team an idea of what you plan to do with it. If you were caught in possession of a small amount of marijuana, this is a misdemeanor. A larger amount of this drug or even a small amount of another substance, such as heroin or meth, will lead to felony charges. A Shreveport attorney will explain the charge and how to approach the case.

If you’re in search of a Shreveport lawyer to handle your legal issue, you should schedule a free case evaluation at a law firm that’s experienced with the type of law that relates to your case. Whether that’s personal injury, family law, criminal law, or related practice areas, you should ask what kinds of cases the firm has handled and how long they’ve worked in this practice area. You can also ask for examples of successful cases, client reviews, and awards the firm has won over the years. You should be able to get these answers from your initial evaluation.

Second-degree murder is defined as the killing of a person with the intent to end their life or inflict serious harm. This also describes first-degree murder, but only when certain circumstances are true. For example, if the victim was under age 12 or older than 65, or if there were multiple victims, you could be charged with first-degree murder. The same applies if you killed someone while committing a serious crime like kidnapping, rape, robbery, terrorism, burglary, or other offenses. If convicted, you could face the death penalty or life in prison, so hire an attorney immediately.

People often confuse robbery with burglary or assume they’re the same crime, but they’re different. Robbery is when someone takes a valuable item directly from the victim without permission, usually by intimidation or force. As such, it’s a crime against a person. By contrast, burglary is a property crime since it involves unlawful entry of a building, house, or vehicle to commit a crime. This crime is often theft of an item, but it could also be vandalism. The victim is typically not present during the burglary like they are during a robbery.

If you’re nervous about going before a judge in the courtroom, it’s helpful to know that most cases don’t make it to trial. Lawyers usually try to get the charges dropped or dismissed so their clients can put the arrest behind them. If this isn’t possible, the next step may be to settle out of court through a plea deal in which a Shreveport lawyer negotiates with the prosecutors to get charges and penalties reduced. Your lawyer might decide that going to trial is the right option for your case, at which point they’ll ensure you’re well prepared for this process.