Did you know that there are as many as 1.4 million violent crimes in the U.S. each year? Did you also know that there were approximately 12,658 murders and roughly 89,110 rapes in America in 2006 alone? Rape is the crime of forcing someone to have sex. Rape is a felony crime that is punishable by three to 10 years in prison in some states, and depending on the age of the victim, rape can also result in life in prison. Another type of rape is “statutory rape.” Statutory rape is the act of having sex with someone who has not yet reached the age of legal consent.

If you have been accused of rape, whether you are guilty or not, you should hire a criminal lawyer or attorney to help you with your case. If you are suing a convicted rapist for damages resulting from the crime, you will need to hire a civil lawyer or attorney. Even if the person was not convicted and you feel they should have been, and you want to sue them for damages -- you should hire a civil lawyer or attorney. Criminal lawyers and attorneys represent individuals who have been charged with crimes by arguing their cases in courts of law. A criminal lawyer or attorney will typically have a private practice concentrating on criminal law.

If you have been arrested for rape, you should request an attorney or contact a private criminal lawyer or attorney immediately. There are many things to look for when hiring a criminal lawyer or attorney. A good criminal attorney will be familiar with important rape laws of the state in which the crime took place, because many criminal law rules are hidden away in court interpretations of federal and state constitutions.

Criminal lawyers and attorneys will also be familiar with local court customs and procedures that you just can’t find in a book. They will also have a clear understanding of the "hidden costs" of pleading guilty, they will spend significant amounts of time on your case, and they will hire and manage investigators, and they will research and gather vital information from prosecution witnesses. They will also have an eye for those who embellish and an ear for the facts.