Criminal Charge

A criminal charge is the formal written document filed with a court that accuses a person of a crime. This sometimes read in open court at an initial hearing, though the defendant can waive this. In these cases it becomes the basis for a series of what are called indictments. These are the specific statutory violations alleged to have been committed. An indictment can be for a misdemeanor or a felony. A felony is a more serious violation, usually penalized with prison time. Either way, a criminal charge can be a serious matter and for that reason most states provide for court-appointed legal counsel for people who cannot otherwise afford a lawyer.

 

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Legal Articles

  • Double Jeopardy 3 Star Rating
    The Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution provides, in part, that, “…nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb…”  This is known as the double jeopardy clause and it protects people from being tried for the same crime on the same set of facts more than one time by the same government. While the … more
  • What Happens When You Face Out of State Criminal Charges?
    Any kind of criminal charge can be difficult for the accused to manage.  However, if a person is arrested and charged with a crime in a state that is not his or her permanent residence then it might be even more difficult to mount an adequate defense. Jurisdiction The state in which the alleged crime occurred is the state that has jurisdiction to prosecute the offense.  So, for … more
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What Happens When You Face Out of State Criminal Charges?

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