If you have been arrested and charged with a crime in the state of North Dakota your first call should be to a criminal law attorney. You have rights that must be protected to ensure that you get a fair shake in the criminal justice system. From the moment you are arrested you enter a system where you should be innocent until proven guilty though it may not feel that way.

It is a scary thought for anyone to face the prospect of losing your freedom. That is only one option that the government has to punish law breakers. There can be substantial fines, probation, community service or parole if you are convicted. There are two classifications of crimes, misdemeanors and felonies. Each can vary in degree depending on the severity and circumstances of the crime. A common term most people have heard is 1 st degree murder. First degree indicates planning or forethought so would carry a harsher punishment than 2 nd degree murder which indicates a crime of passion or heat of the moment, lacking intent. These degrees are applied to many types of felonies. The need for a criminal attorney on your side is obvious. Even if you are guilty of a crime but the degree of the felony does not match the circumstances your attorney can attempt to prove that. It is not the job of a criminal lawyer to prove you are not guilty of a crime per say. The burden of proving your guilt is on the prosecutor who is employed by the government. A criminal attorney will try to introduce doubt into the mix. The jury will be instructed by the judge that they must find you guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. There is also a chance that your lawyer can come to an agreement with the prosecutor for a reduced sentence in exchange for your guilty plea. Sometimes certain crimes are the hot button issue of the moment resulting in the prosecutors office avoiding any plea deals so it all depends on the timing and circumstances of a situation. An experienced criminal attorney will be able to lay out your likely options according to their usual dealings with certain prosecutors so you can make the best decision for you. On some occasion’s prosecutors will cut a deal offering you the chance to drop the felony to a misdemeanor if you meet certain conditions like drug and alcohol counseling or anger management classes. Find the best criminal attorney for your situation so you will know all the angles and they can start ensuring your rights are protected.

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