Seattle Criminal Attorneys Take the Offensive
Are you really not sure what a criminal attorney does? A criminal attorney is needed for any act of crime that is punishable by federal, state or local law enforcement. In a criminal case, a prosecutor, not the crime victim, initiates and controls the case. The prosecutor may file criminal charges even if the victim doesn’t approve, or refuses to file criminal charges. The criminal charges are classified according to their seriousness – treason, felony, infraction and misdemeanor, treason being the most serious.
All prosecuting criminal attorneys are hired by the Seattle, Washington, entity that is pursing the criminal action. Their position is to locate enough evidence or witnesses to prove the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. The defendant can either hire their own criminal attorney or if they cannot afford one, a criminal attorney can be appointed to them. Knowing how to read the law will determine whether it has been broken.
There are seven common defenses given by a defendant trying escape prosecution. They include: innocence, reasonable doubt, an alibi, self-defense, insanity, under the influence of alcohol or narcotics, and entrapment. There is a series of steps that each criminal action will take – arrest, booking and bail, arraignment, plea bargain, preliminary hearing, pre-trial motions, the actual trial, sentencing and appeals.
Sometimes the same conduct may violate both criminal and civil laws. A defendant whose actions violate both criminal and civil rules may be criminally prosecuted by the state and civilly sued by a victim for monetary damages. In this case, separate charges will be filed, using both a criminal attorney and a civil attorney.
If you feel that you have been victimized, contact your local Seattle law enforcement immediately – even if you feel the crime is minor. You can also contact the National Center for Victims of Crime for information about victim assistance, support, civil litigation and more.
If you have been involved in a crime and are in need of a criminal attorney in Seattle, you can search the Findlaw Lawyer Directory. Defendants faced with the possibility of going to jail or prison should almost always hire an attorney, unless they qualify for the free or reduced-fee services of a public defender or court-appointed attorney.
