Probation Violation: Consequences and Penalties

No person in the world is perfect and that is the reason why we make mistakes so often. Still, the important thing is to make sure that our mistakes do not affect the lives of people around us in a very negative way. Our actions must not harm anyone else and if you have managed to break the law, have no doubts – you will be held responsible for it.

With that said, some crimes are not as serious as others. The court is not always throwing everyone to jail. On the contrary, if the crimes were not that serious, the convicted person actually gets a second chance. This chance comes in form of probation. The judge may be willing to substitute a jail sentence for the probation. Of course, it does not mean that the individual will be set free. There are certain terms and conditions of probation that the convicted individual will be obliged to follow at all times.

The conditions of probation vary from case to case and generally depend on a variety of factors. However, there are several things that are common for any probation. First of all, you will be obliged to report to your probation officer on a day to day basis. He will monitor you and your actions in order to make sure that you are not intending to commit a crime yet again. Furthermore, you may be obliged to perform drug tests every week in order to make sure that you remain sober. In addition, you will be required to attend to special alcohol or drug awareness classes as well as perform community service. The type of community service also depends on the crimes that you have committed. A special tracking device may be attached to your foot or your arm in order to track your movements. You will be prohibited from getting in contact with any criminal elements and you will need to stay as far away from any criminal activity as possible.

Furthermore, it is very important for you to attend the probation hearing. Some people do not realize how important it really is and miss the hearing. However, it is crucial for you to be there or to send a qualified and experienced attorney instead (if allowed to). Otherwise, you risk getting a bench warrant, which means that you will be charged with probation violation (PENAL CODE SECTION 1191-1210.5) and arrested.

In certain cases, the judge will be willing to provide you with yet another chance and will allow you to remain on probation, but for an extended period of time and with new conditions. One way or the other, you will need to find yourself a good attorney, who will be able to minimize the sentence and who could negotiate better probation conditions for you. Only a top quality legal representative will be able to help in a situation like this, so do not neglect to contact a lawyer as soon as possible.

Were you arrested for a probation violation? Contact our attorney now!

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Am I Paying The Right Price For a Criminal Attorney Services? Here is what You Need To Know

Of course, every single one of us makes all sorts of mistakes. It is completely normal and understandable – after all, it is in our nature. However, it is crucial to make sure that your mistakes do not hurt people around you, especially people you love most.

At times, our mistakes as well as other people’s mistakes may lead to some serious conflicts that can no longer be resolved on the spot. Hence, the case goes to court, so the judge and the jury will determine who is right.

 There is a number of different case types: a personal injury, a civil litigation or a criminal case. It all depends on what wrongdoings the people are accused of.

One way or the other, trying to handle things on your own in court is not a very good idea. After all, most people lack knowledge of laws that are absolutely vital for success of your case. Some individuals prefer to use the services of public defenders. While the majority of public attorneys are very skillful and deserve respect, most of them do not have the time to concentrate on your case, since they already have their hands full with dozens of other cases.

Hence, the most obvious and effective solution would be to hire a professional attorney, who would invest all of his time and efforts into dealing with your case. Still, a lot of people wonder how much money the lawyer will want for his or her services and how much money should you expect to spend? After all, if you will lose the case, you will also need to pay expensive fines, restitution and so on and it is always good to know how much a lawyer will cost you beforehand.

Well, once again, it all depends on the type of case the lawyer will be dealing with. If it is a civil litigation or a personal injury case, the attorney may work with you on the basis of a contingency fee. This means that you will not need to pay any money beforehand, not even a retainer. The lawyer will get his share of the settlement in case you succeed. In most cases, the contingency fee constitutes about 33% from the overall settlement. This is an especially convenient option for those, who cannot afford hiring the attorney due to limited budget.

However, when it comes to the criminal cases, the attorney will be unable to provide you with a contingency fee option it goes against the rules of ethics and if an attorney agrees to work for a contingency fee, there are reasons to believe that he or she is going against all the ethics.

In criminal cases, most lawyers largely work in line with the flat attorney’s fees. These fees include all the work for your case as well as court appearances. Every additional appearance will cost you a certain amount of money. There are usually 2 or 3 appearances, so you will not need to pay for a dozens of those in the end. Furthermore, if you cannot pay the whole sum from the start, most attorneys will be able to come up with a payment plan that will be convenient for you.

When you are choosing an attorney, always keep in mind that paying more money will get you a more experienced legal specialist. The Law Offices of Criminal Defense Experts offering legal help supported with 100% proven results in fighting criminal cases with positive outcome.

Were you arrested and charged with a criminal offense? Contact our attorney immediately!

Drinking in Public Violation – Is There a Need For an Attorney?

According to the Penal Code, drinking alcohol in public is a violation that may be treated as a misdemeanor. Furthermore, being drunk in public is also an offense, so the law enforcement officers will have a right to arrest you if they will have reasons to believe that you are no longer responsible for your actions.

If you were charged for drinking in public, the charges may result in a misdemeanor offense and it will leave a criminal record in your personal history. Criminal records are never a good thing. After all, they may have a long lasting negative effect on your day to day living. Your criminal records can be accessed by your potential employees and very few companies will be eager to hire a worker, who was convicted of drinking alcohol in public. Very few landlords will want such a person in the neighborhood and this is why it is so important to do something about those records.

Of course, under certain circumstances, drinking in public may be considered a wobble and qualified as a disturbance of peace. Wobbles imply that the crime may be considered either a misdemeanor or an infraction. Infractions, unlike misdemeanors, do not involve any jail time and you will be able to deal with the issue by simply paying a small fine. Of course, such an outcome is preferable, but it does not necessarily mean that you will be able to achieve such a result on your own or by working with a public defender. Do not get it wrong, the majority of public lawyers are very qualified and skillful, but they usually have their hands full with other cases and will hardly be able to invest their time and efforts into your case.

On the other hand, if you do not want drinking in public to affect your criminal records, it is crucial not to waste time and to get in touch with a qualified as well as genuinely experienced Los Angeles criminal defense law offices at the earliest opportunity.

Only will a good criminal defense attorney have what it takes to convince the court that you are a good and decent person, who made one mistake and who definitely deserves a second chance. Your chances of getting off with only a small fine will be quadrupled with a professional legal representative, so make sure to hire one as soon as possible. The law offices of criminal defense specialists provide free initial case review and develop best defense options that are possible.

It is very important to know a good lawyer, since you never know what kind of situation you may find yourself in one day and it is crucial to have a professional, who knows how to handle things by your side. Skillful criminal defense attorneys will go through all the available evidence against you and will find a breach, no matter how tiny it may be, in order to help you achieve the very best result possible.

Were you arrested and charged with a drinking in public? Contact us now!

Assault And Battery Charges: What Is The Main Difference?

Most people, who are not familiar with how the justice system functions, are largely used to thinking that assault and battery are the same kind of charges and are therefore treated equally in the court of law. In reality, despite the fact that assault and battery often go back to back, the offenses are different and it is important to distinguish them properly.

Assault charges are only applicable when a person threatened to injure you or harm you in any way and you have valid reasons to believe that the threat is legitimate. On the other hand, a battery offense is when a person already harmed you physically.

To make it more understandable, let us review the following situations:

• You are chatting with a group of people online and you are having an argument. Everyone is trying to prove that he is right and in the end, a person from the group threatens to find you via your IP address and kill you. While this may seem as an unlikely scenario, you feel threatened and you have reasons to believe that the person may have the skills to establish your location. You do not feel safe anymore, so you go to the police. You are pressing assault charges, since the individual threatened to harm you. However, if the guy was simply fooling around and you knew that his threats were jokes, you cannot press any charges, for there was no danger to you.
•  Same situation. You are arguing with a group of people online, when one of them threatens to find you using your IP address and kill you. Eventually, the guy finds you and tries to harm you. You are injured in the process and you are pressing charges. The person, who attacked you, will be charged with both the assault and battery. The assault charges are based on the fact that the person threatened you and the battery charges are based on the fact that the person tried to kill you and traumatized you in the process.
• In certain situations, people will jump at you from nowhere and will injure you. Hence, they will be charged with battery only, since there were no actual threats and the individual attacked you without any warnings.

One way or the other, if you or your loved ones are in the kind of situation when you are seeking justice and you wish to make sure that the person, who attacked you will be judged properly, it is very important to get in touch with a qualified as well as experienced criminal defense lawyer, who will have what it takes to get you the most desirable outcome. Only a good attorney will know how to handle the judge and your opponent’s defense in order to ensure quick and effective success. A professional criminal defense  legal representative is a key for succeeding in criminal cases as such, regardless of whether it is a battery or assault case. The lawyer’s knowledge could prove to be useful and critical to winning the case as quickly as possible.

Arrested for an assault or a battery? Contact us now!

Domestic Violence And Legal Consequences Involving a Spouse in Los Angeles, CA

It is in human nature to make mistakes. After all, no one is perfect. However, it is very important to make sure that other people will not suffer from your mistakes and that your mistakes will not affect their health and everyday living.

Family life is tough and tricky. It all seems so bright, straightforward and uncomplicated in the movies, but in reality you will have to face a plethora of day to problems – bills, job, finances, kids, daily routines – to name a few. Sure enough, we also live in a very fast paced society, where just about everyone and everything is constantly rushing somewhere, trying to deal with tasks and responsibilities. Of course, it all induces a lot of pressure. People grow desperate, they are frustrated and family conflicts eventually turn into a pretty common thing. Furthermore, when a couple of people are living under the same roof, it is obvious that a conflict may arise eventually – we are all different and have different visions of life.

At times, family scandals turn into something bigger – they grow into domestic violence – an ugly and disgraceful thing that nevertheless exists in the modern society. However, if your spouse turned on you and hit you, it is very important not to remain idle. Chances are, this person may resort to violence once more and the situation may become even more serious.

The law enforcement authorities are trying to fight this issue – the individual charged with domestic violence will be punished accordingly. Domestic violence crimes can be viewed as misdemeanors and as felonies, depending on the circumstances. The legal penalties for that crime also vary in line with the situation. For instance, in case the crime was determined as a felony, the offender may risk spending several years in jail or even state prison and will also be obliged to pay a significant fine. 

There are cases when people are wrongfully accused by their loved ones. If that is the case and you were set up, it is crucial not to lose any more time and to get in touch with a qualified as well as genuinely experienced Los Angeles criminal defense attorney. Only a lawyer will be able to go through all the available evidence against you in order to uncover the truth. Only a professional legal representative will have what it takes to prove your innocence, to dismiss the case or to minimize the sentence at the very least.

It is best to hire a specialist rather than work with a public defender. Most public lawyers are very skillful, but have their hands full and will not be able to provide you with proper assistance. Hence, if you were accused of committing an act of domestic violence, do not hesitate to visit the law offices of Los Angeles criminal defense experts to avoid any harsh penalties.

Should You Plead Guilty or No Contest For a DUI Case?

If you or your loved ones were accused of driving under the influence of alcohol or illegal substances, you must be prepared to face some genuinely harsh legal consequences. With the ever growing number of DUI accidents, the law enforcement authorities do not take these offenses lightly.

When it comes to the legal punishment, you can expect a number of things. First of all, the arresting officer, will take your driving license and will instead provide you with a temporary permit that will allow you to operate your vehicle for 30 more days. Afterwards, your license will be revoked. If you want to protest against this decision, you can file an official request to the DMV in order to initiate an administrative hearing within 10 days after the accident.

Depending on the circumstances of the accident, you may also be obliged to pay restitution and expensive fines – tens of thousands of dollars. Besides, even if you will get to keep your license, you may still be obliged to purchase a special SR22 insurance that was specifically designed for high risk drivers. This insurance will cost almost three times as much as the standard one, so you will have to pay a small fortune for it.

You also may be obliged to perform a community service. If a person was injured or even killed during the accident, you may be incarcerated and sentenced to jail or state prison, which is a pretty terrifying option indeed.

Prior to the actual trial, the so-called arraignment is going to take place. This is when your rights will be read to you. Among those rights, there is a very important one – the right for an attorney. You have a legal right to be represented by a qualified experienced DUI defense attorney from The Law Offices of Criminal Specialists. In case you cannot hire one, a public lawyer will be provided to you. However, it is also important to know that the vast majority of public lawyers have their hands full with other cases and will be unable to provide you with a genuinely effective defense strategy. That is why it is best to hire professional legal representative.

At the arraignment, you will also be granted with an opportunity to enter in a plea bargain. You can plead as not guilty, guilty or no contest. However, do not be too hasty. It is crucial to consult an attorney beforehand. After all, even if you are going to plead as guilty or no contest, it does not necessarily mean that your sentence will be less harsh. Only a good lawyer will know what kind of consequences to expect from such a bargain, so it is wise to consult him or her prior to making any significant decisions.

If that is the case and you do not want to have your life ruined because of the decisions that you made in court, do not hesitate to find a seasoned drunk driving criminal defense specialist, who will always be more than happy to represent your interests and will defend your rights in court. This is the only effective strategy in case you wish to argue with the court or wish to have the case dismissed whatsoever. Public attorneys may not be good enough for you and it is best that you do everything in your power to hire an industry’s expert as soon as possible.  

Will Involuntary Intoxication Work For DUI Defense In California?

Being accused of driving under the influence of alcohol or illegal substances in California is very serious and could lead to some genuinely severe legal penalties. You will risk losing your driving license, will have to pay expensive fines, will need to attend special alcohol or drug awareness classes, will be obliged to perform community service and, worst of all, may be incarcerated for a very long time.

A reasonable number of people, who were charged with driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs in Los Angeles, claim that they were given date rape drugs and they actually did not have that much to drink. These people are certain that they are innocent and want to use involuntary intoxication as the main defense strategy. While such incidents do happen, using involuntary intoxication defense in court is not that easy or straightforward. After all, it is very difficult to prove that you were drugged or intoxicated involuntarily.

To be more accurate, let’s review the following situation: Rachel meets a nice guy online and decides to go on a date with him. The guy says that he will meet her at a local bar. One night, Rachel goes to the bar and meets the guy from Facebook. They have a nice chat, but she does not really want to drink, so she makes a small sip from her glass. Everything around her goes black and the next thing she remembers is that she was driving her car in a very intoxicated condition, so the law enforcement officers were forced to stop her. She is arrested and charged with driving under the influence. Sure enough, Rachel is shocked and tries to tell them that she was drugged, but the officers arrest her anyway.

Of course, this situation is highly unpleasant, but you will be surprised with how often those things happen to people. The problem here is that it is very difficult to prove anything, In order to provide the court with ample evidence that would demonstrate that Rachel was in fact involuntarily drugged; Rachel will need to go through a series of tests that will determine if the date rape drug is still in her system. At times, people are hesitant to take the test and at times, it is too late to take the tests in the first place. Besides, very often, people, who drank too much at a party, have a tendency to forget how much they were actually drinking. They remember the first sips and their memory simply blacks out all the rest. Hence, it is only natural that the judge and the prosecution hesitate when the offender claims that he or she was drugged and does not remember drinking at all.

In the end, if you were arrested in line with the DUI charges and you have reasons to believe that you were given a date rape or similar drug, it is important not to lose time and to get in touch with a qualified Los Angeles criminal defense law office at the earliest opportunity. They will be able to go through all the evidence, including police reports and test results so as to determine if what you are saying is true. Furthermore, if you are correct and you were intoxicated by someone else, the attorney will do his best to prove your innocence to the court and to make the police go after the offender, who drugged you. Therefore, if you want to prove your innocence, do not hesitate to hire a qualified legal representative and you will never regret it.