Getting charged with a crime can be one of the scariest moments in a person’s life. If you or a loved one is arrested, it’s critically important to speak with an attorney who specializes in criminal offense as soon as possible. A criminal lawyer Fairfax VA may be able to help you protect the legal rights to which you’re constitutionally entitled.

What Happens After You Get Arrested?

Once you have been taken into custody by a police officer, you will be brought to a police station and entered into the system. A mug shot will be taken, and you will be fingerprinted. You will have the right to seek a lawyer to represent you at your arraignment, and in most instances, you will be given the opportunity to meet with that attorney before your hearing takes place. Your court hearing will typically take place within 48 hours of the time you were taken into custody.

Your Initial Court Hearing

At your arraignment, the charges against you and the penalties these charges carry will be explained to you. The rights to counsel and trial by jury will also be explained. You will be asked to enter a plea. If you plead “not guilty,” a trial date will be set; if you plead “guilty,” a sentencing date will be set. A plea of not guilty can be changed to a plea of guilty at a later date.

If you have pleaded not guilty, the judge will set the amount of bail you must put up in order to be released from custody pending your trial. If you are found not guilty in your subsequent trial, the Commonwealth of Virginia will return the entire amount of your bail to you.

Pre-Sentencing Reports

Judges typically rely upon pre-sentencing reports to help them determine the penalties they will impose. Pre-sentencing reports typically contain information about a defendant’s background, and they may also contain testimonials from people who know the defendant such as family members and friends. Often the judge will also take into account the experiences of the victims who were injured or whose property was damaged through the commission of the crime.

There will eventually come a time in your life when you will need the services of a legal professional. When this time comes, you need to be certain that you hire the right person for the job. Otherwise, you could have a big problem winning your case. There is seemingly a lawyer’s office on every corner. However, do not allow yourself to be fooled. The skill and legal knowledge that lawyers have is not always the same. Be sure of the qualifications of the lawyer that you end up hiring. Here are a few of the best ways that you will be able to track down a law firm with a great reputation.

1. You should consult the Better Business Bureau to find out all of the data they have compiled about various law firms.

It would be to your benefit to take a look at the site that is operated by the BBB. They have profiles for many law firms. This is why you should read all of the info about any law firm that you are strongly considering to use for your legal representation. Pay very close attention to the letter grade that the BBB had given to each law firm. You should only be interested in hiring a law firm that has been given an A+ rating. The BBB can help you find a great bankruptcy lawyer St Louis.

2. Seek out friends and family members who have been victorious in recent court cases.

Try to find people who were recently in the same situation that you are in right now. Perhaps some of the people you know needed to hire a lawyer not long ago. Who did they hire? How did they find this lawyer? What sort of case was it? How long did the case take to complete? How much did the lawyer charge? Talking to the people in your life might give you some references to very good lawyers who work in your area.

3. How much experience does the lawyer have?

For obvious reasons, you need to be certain that the lawyer you hire has been practicing for at least nine years. You want to avoid hiring someone to be your legal counsel if they have not been out of law school for very long. The experience of your lawyer can be critical if you go to court.