What to Do When You Are Facing Criminal Charges

February 4, 2020

Most people do not want to get involved in any type of criminal activity that could cause them to get arrested, convicted, and sentenced to time in prison or even probation. However, some people do get involved in criminal activities that put them at risk of getting into serious trouble. Knowing what happens when you are facing criminal charges is important. Even if you know you had nothing to do with the charges against you, it is still frightening to think of the possible consequences associated with a conviction of the crime.

What Can Happen?

There are steps involved in the legal process. If there is a reason for the police to believe that you have committed a crime, they will arrest you and take you down to the station. While you are at the police station, they will create a police report that includes details on the reason for your arrest. The prosecutor will review the police report and decide if action is necessary. You are then placed in the jail where you may be released on your own recognizance or where you will have your bail set at a certain amount. If your bail is set, you must post bail before you can leave the jail, but that does not mean that you are not still facing some serious consequences.

The judge will hold a hearing that is known as a preliminary hearing. If there is enough evidence to support some of the charges made against you, the judge will decide to proceed with the case, which means you would need to hire a criminal defense attorney to help you fight for your freedom while proving that you are not guilty of the charges against you.

How to Decide If Prosecution is Necessary

Prosecutors will decide if it is necessary to take legal action against a person based on the charges listed in the police report. Sometimes there is simply not enough evidence to keep the charges and take the defendant on in the courtroom. However, charges will often stand when a person is accused of committing a crime. There are also times when a case is taken to the grand jury for a decision.

What Does the Grand Jury Do?

The grand jury takes measures to decide if a case is worth pursuing. The grand jury will review different evidence that may be used in a case, but they will not decide if the defendant is guilty or innocent like a traditional jury would do during a trial. The grand jury meets together in secrecy to review details of the case and then come up with a decision. The decision does not need to be unanimous. Instead, it goes by the majority vote on whether to drop the charges against an individual or not.

If you are facing criminal charges, know that there is a process involved. Whether those charges get dropped depends on different factors. You should hire a criminal defense attorney to help you with your legal situation.

Contact an Experienced Summit Criminal Defense Lawyer About Your Assault and Battery Charges in New Jersey

Were you arrested or charged with a crime in New Jersey? The consequences of a conviction could be severe, leaving you with a permanent criminal record and possibly even sending you to jail. That is why you need to speak with a qualified criminal defense attorney as soon as possible about your case. The attorneys at Zegas Law have successfully represented clients in Bergen, Atlantic, Camden, Burlington Counties, and throughout New Jersey. Call 973-833-4724 or fill out the online contact form to schedule a consultation with a member of our legal team. We have an office conveniently located at 60 Morris Turnpike #3 in Summit, NJ 07901.

The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney-client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.

Fearless
“Alan Zegas represented me in a high-profile criminal case. He has a brilliant mind, with strong institutional knowledge and an extraordinary command of the law. He was detail oriented, an enormously strategic thinker, fearless, compassionate, personally accessible on a 24/7 basis, and was all in for me. He was always well prepared and often could see things that others did not. Most importantly, he provided an honest and straightforward assessment of the facts. Alan acted entirely in my best interest, without regard to running up billable hours or moving my case into an unwinnable position. He was always kind, but never hesitant to be blunt and forthcoming. He exuded competence and professionalism at every moment throughout the process.”
Extremely Thorough
“Alan is a master of the art of law, is extremely thorough and meticulous to every detail. He speaks softly but carries a big stick. It is obvious that he is given a great deal of respect in the court room. I knew I was in the best of hands from the get go. For such matters, you need the very best. Alan earned my complete trust. There are a great deal of firms out there with many partners, and associates. Alan is a solo guy, so you know your case is getting his personal attention. As an example, he was always accessible by phone or text. I am grateful for everything he did for me.”

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