The Role of a Felony Law Firm: How We Fight for Your Rights
A felony law firm defends people charged with serious crimes. Upon making an arrest, police are obliged to inform the person of their Miranda Rights. These include the right to remain silent and the right to an attorney. This means that the arrested person is not obliged to answer any police questions until they have access to a lawyer.
The defense lawyer is there to uphold the person’s legal rights. This is part of due process in any criminal proceeding, deriving from the ancient right of habeas corpus (Latin, “That You Have The Body”). This legal convention broadly underpins a person's rights against unlawful detention. To this day, habeas corpus informs the modern rules governing arrest and arraignment.
What is a felony?
A felony describes any crime that carries a penalty of one year or more in prison. Felonies are serious crimes. According to Missouri Court Records, these include murder, manslaughter, treason, kidnapping, arson, assault, robbery, drug trafficking, and child abuse and molestation. Some lesser-known examples include incest, deceptive business practices, forgery, and identity theft.
The rights of the arrested person
An arrested person has certain rights, which include the right to have a lawyer. If the person cannot afford a lawyer, the state is obliged to provide one. A felony law firm specializes in defending people in this situation.
First and foremost, the arrested person (also known as the defendant in court) has the right to have a lawyer present during police questioning. An attorney from a felony law firm can advise the defendant on what to say. They can also ensure that the defendant is properly looked after in custody, including provision of food, water, and sleep.
Fighting for defendants’ rights
A felony law firm undertakes a number of activities in the client’s defense. These include:
- Being present during police interviews
- Arranging bail
- Preparing a case for the defense
- Negotiating for reduced charges and penalties
- Attending court to represent the defendant
- Speaking to the judge on the defendant’s behalf
In Missouri, a felony law firm may be able to get the charges reduced or dismissed entirely. At the very least, the Missouri lawyer will work to arrange bail so that the defendant is not held in jail until the trial date. Without this help, the U.S. legal system is such that the defendant will likely spend the intervening time until trial in jail. Time served in this fashion is generally deducted from the defendant’s final prison sentence, if any.
Consult a Missouri lawyer at a felony law firm
A person is innocent until proven guilty, and a felony law firm is there to protect the client’s rights. Having a Missouri lawyer from a felony law firm represent you can be the difference between jail time versus walking free. Access to a lawyer is also a foundational legal right of every person accused of a crime. If you are facing criminal charges, contact our defense attorney at Dean Price Law for a consultation today.
Call us at (417) 865-2181 for more information from Dean Price Law or to schedule a consultation in our office in Springfield. NOTE: This is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.
Check out what others are saying about our services on Yelp: Felony Law Firm in Springfield, MO.
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