St. Paul Criminal Defense Law Firm
Practice Areas and Legal Definitions

Minnesota laws and procedures related to criminal defense are complicated and require a skilled criminal defense lawyer. The attorneys of the Duggins Law Firm LLC fight for the rights of alleged criminal offenders in St. Paul, the Twin Cities and throughout Minnesota and North Dakota. the Duggins Law Firm LLC delivers personalized attention to its clients by keeping case information detailed and accessible and provides criminal defense legal solutions related to the following matters:

Expungements:

• Arrested, but never charged with the crime?
• Arrested and charged, but the charges were dismissed?
• Arrested and convicted by a guilty plea or a jury?

Under most circumstances it may be possible to have the records expunged. The expungement process is a several step process. After the successful completion of an expungement, the general public, including potential employers, future landlords, insuranc companies, mortgage companies and many others who may do criminal background checks, will not have access to those old records. The Duggins Law Firm charges a flat fee for an expungement, the amount depends on the nature of the situation.

Criminal Defense:

Individuals found to violate a criminal law (whether through their own admission of guilt or through the determination of a jury) are subject to fines, imprisonment, probation, community service and other penalties. The outcome of any criminal case depends upon the facts surrounding the crime charged, the strength of the evidence, the legal validity of law enforcement and courtroom procedure and the goals and strategy of the government and defense. The St. Paul criminal defense Attorneysat the Duggins Law Firm will navigate you through this complicated legal process.

Serious Felony Crimes:

Felony crimes involve drug and narcotics charges, arson, burglary, armed robbery, murder and/or attempted murder, rape and/or sexual assault, kidnapping and assault and battery. A felony conviction is a serious matter that can result in a substantial prison sentence and the potential loss of certain privileges and Constitutional rights of U.S. citizenship, such as the right to possess a firearm or the right to vote.

Misdemeanors:

Some people think of misdemeanors as minor offenses. The firm's attorneys understand that a conviction for any crime can have disastrous consequences. A misdemeanor conviction can result in substantial jail time and the loss of important rights and freedoms, the Duggins Law Firm knows such cases are anything but minor.

Drug and Narcotic Crimes:

Drug and narcotic offenses can range from misdemeanors with light sentences to felonies that carry a life sentence. In some situations, a conviction could result in deportation. Drug offenses also include a wide variety of drug-related activities which include possession, distribution, cultivation, manufacturing and delivery. For more information on drug and narcotic-related matters, contact the St. Paul criminal defense Attorneys at the Duggins Law Firm.

Sex Crimes:

Charges of sexual misconduct carry extremely serious penalties, and these crimes are commonly punished more severely than any other crime except murder. Sexual misconduct is seldom witnessed by anyone other than the accuser and the accused. The risk of conviction of an innocent person is drastically higher in these cases.

Accusations of unwanted sexual advances and child molestation are often investigated and prosecuted without sufficient evidence. Sometimes extremely relevant evidence is excluded from trial, such as an accuser's past sexual conduct.

Sexual misconduct cases require a combination of effective legal counsel, investigation and negotiation before indictment. Where conviction seems inevitable, experts are used to explore treatment and supervision alternatives or psychiatric hospitalization.

Domestic Violence:

Domestic violence is any physical, emotional, sexual or other violence that takes place between people who may be married or not married; heterosexual, gay or lesbian; or living together, separated or dating. Domestic violence can be criminal and include physical assault: hitting, pushing and shoving, etc.; sexual abuse: unwanted or forced sexual activity; and stalking.

Traffic Violations:

There is an entire body of law that regulates the operation of motor vehicles on the streets and highways that can be difficult to interpret and apply. It is important to contact an experienced traffic/DUI defense lawyer if you have been charged with any traffic violations.

Traffic violations are specifically addressed in state statutes and can include: driving under the influence, driving with a suspended license, driving without insurance, leaving the scene of an accident and DMV hearings and appeals.

Drunk Driving:

There are many technical requirements for a valid investigation of a drunken driving charge. The Minnesota legislature continually tries to make tougher laws about drunk driving. It is necessary for a skilled lawyer to look at each technical aspect of the case to make sure that the police have followed the law and required procedures.

There are a number of reasons why you may want to employ scientific experts to testify in your case. We maintain working relationships with qualified experts who can testify to the important aspects of your case, such as the validity of the sobriety test, interaction of various substances with alcohol in the blood stream, technical shortfalls with the breath test, etc.

If you or someone you know in St. Paul, the Twin Cities, or throughout Minnesota or North Dakota, need the legal counsel or assistance of an experienced criminal defense lawyer, contact the Duggins Law Firm LLC today at 866-248-0086, or complete the contact form provided on this site to begin your free consultation.