Indiana criminal attorneys are specialized legal representatives who are knowledgeable in the nuances of the criminal law in the state. An individual facing a criminal charge must seek assistance from a qualified criminal lawyer to represent him/her in a court of law and ensure that he/she receives a fair trial. Filing written charges or a complaint begins the criminal justice process and sets the court proceedings in motion. To be convicted an accused must be proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, either by the prosecutor or the state counsel. The court may then look at appointing a grand jury or having a preliminary hearing, depending on the jurisdiction where the crime was committed.

Crimes may be categorized as felonies or as misdemeanors depending on the seriousness and the length and degree of punishment that it warrants. Felonies are punishable by a jail term of over a year while a misdemeanor might only be fined or receive a short jail term. Felonies include serious crimes such as kidnapping, burglary, treason, rape and homicide. Of late, the common law system of classifying crimes as felonies and misdemeanors is gradually being replaced with newer systems. Several newer statutes classify crimes by the degree of severity termed as the Model Penal Code.

Once the formal presentation of charges in open court begins the criminal attorney will present the case details investigated and question witnesses as required. The lawyer will advise whether the defendant can plead guilty or not guilty to the charges. The accused may plead guilty to lesser charges where the lawyer will negotiate with the prosecutors. The defendant's lawyer will have right to receive a wide variety of information from the prosecutor prior to trial, that is during the discovery process, and this is called exculpatory information.

An experienced criminal lawyer will recommend a plea bargain for a client only after ascertaining the strength of the evidence that will be presented by the prosecutor based on the details revealed by the prosecutor before trial, and any potential penalties to the defendant. The accused can also file for bail based on the guidance of the defense attorney. The bail money or property that an accused person puts forth as security guarantees to the court that the accused will appear for further criminal proceedings and the sentencing if applicable. Thus seeking a qualified legal representative is in the best interests of an accused facing criminal charges.

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