In most cases, it becomes worrying when individuals are arrested for criminal charges; this is because the process is usuallyокеьhsenmtes by immense pressure. Education also concerning your rights and the basic processes of the criminal attorney in Tulsa, Oklahoma, makes these challenging periods manageable. You will get advanced information on what to anticipate and the process you are going to face if you are involved in an unlawful act, the importance of engaging the services of a lawyer, and how you can get a qualified criminal attorney in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
The Criminal Justice Process in Tulsa
Crimes, offenders, and the criminal justice system are well defined, and prospective clients need to consider the following steps to get a favorable judgment. Knowledge of these stages will assist you in preparing and making the right decisions.
- Arrest: Police officers who ‘think’ that you have committed a crime in some capacity will be able to arrest you and detain the next course of action.
- Booking: If an arrest has been made, the arrestee will be taken to a station for booking, whereby his or her information will be taken and processed, which includes fingerprinting and photography, among others.
- Initial Appearance: You will be presented before a magistrate who will either read out the charge/s against you or where the magistrate will explain them to you. The judge may also set bail.
- Arraignment: In the trial proceeding, you will make a plea (guilty, not guilty, or no contest to the charges. The speeches of the court will also involve setting of dates for other subsequent events.
- Discovery: The defens,e as well as the prosecution, get to interchange the particulars based on the case that is being handled. This one is very useful in the establishment of your defense strategy.
- Motions: It is at the pretrial stage of a case that your attorney may move to exclude certain evidence, dismiss the case, or deal with other legal matters.
- Negotiation: Most criminal charges are plea bailing, whereby the defendant enters a guilty plea to the charges or accepts a lenient punishment.
- Agreement: Plea bargaining is another aspect that is precipitated by the defense counsel, but the judge has a word to say on the agreement reached.
- Jury Selection: In the case when a trial will be conducted, a jury will be chosen using a process called voir dire.
- Trial Proceedings: The trial includes speeches of both parties, examination of witnesses and specialists, speeches of the opposite party, speeches of the parties, and judicial speeches. The jury text ends, withdraws, and then comes back with the verdict.
- Sentencing Hearing: In case you are found guilty, then there is a sentencing hearing that is conducted. Different considerations will be applied before a judge pronounces a judgment, especially the sentence to be given.
- Filing an Appeal: Equally, if you consider that there were illegal actions at your trial, you have the right to appeal the conviction or the sentence to a superior court of law.
The Importance of Legal Representation
There is a need to adopt a proper criminal attorney who will be in a position to explain the structural and functional aspects of the criminal justice mechanism and defend the legal rights of the accused individual. Here’s why legal representation is essential:
- Expertise and Experience: If you find a good criminal attorney you will comfortable knowing that they understand the ins and outs of the criminal Justice system and can defend your case appropriately.
- Legal Advice: Your attorney will give professional recommendations of the law and will advise you on what you should do if need be at each step of the procedure.
- Negotiation Skills: An experienced attorney in such a case can be of significant importance since he can be used to negotiate with the prosecution team to have the charges reduced or even have a considerably lower penalty imposed on the accused.
- Court Representation: Your attorney will be the person who will stand for you in court, sometimes providing proof, questioning witnesses, and arguing persuasively for your release.
Conclusion
Being a criminal defendant is an unfortunate and solemn event to go through; however, if you know your rights and the process you are put through, these steps make it easier to go through these trying times. The idea of staying informed, enlisting professional help, of preparing can help ensure that a positive outcome is achieved in court. If you need any clarification or if you would like some more information about any given aspect, what area of criminal justice do you wish to consider?
Rockies Ripple is the founder and lead writer behind the independent blog tvplutos.com