The fact is that a lot of Americans are currently living with criminal records — 68 million, to be exact. In many of these cases, a conviction could have been avoidable; or perhaps the convicted person could have ended up with a more favorable penalty. In some cases, a defendant can even negotiate to have a conviction removed from their criminal record after a certain amount of time. But none of this can be done with the help of a criminal defense attorney. Many defendants choose to go without criminal defense attorneys simply because they don’t think they’re worth the money — and ultimately, these defendants end up paying a lot personally and financially. If you’re convicted of a crime — even if it’s not a violent crime — you could end up facing years of jail time, or at the very least a hefty fine and a permanent mark on your record. A conviction on your record can lead to you being denied jobs, among other things. It could dictate where and how you get to live. For that matter, lots of people have an issue with functioning in society after they have criminal records. Fairly or not, many people judge those with criminal records. Below, we’ll look into some of the different charges criminal defense attorneys can help people fight.
Business Fraud
Business fraud may not even seem like a “real” crime to some — and it may not feel like a crime when you’re committing it. But it certainly is a crime, and if you’re charged with it you’ll want a criminal defense attorney who specializes in this area. Business fraud falls into a category that many refer to as white collar crime. It’s non-violent, and usually has to do with issues like business and money. It’s believed that for every 100,000 people, there are 5,317 arrests related to white collar crime. Indeed, fraud cases make up 10.5% of all federal criminal cases. The fact is that often, business fraud flies under the radar — until a person is caught. You can certainly spend time in jail after a business fraud conviction, and therefore need a business fraud lawyer on your side. Business fraud lawyers specialize in this specific type of white collar crime, which can be difficult for people to navigate to its many gray areas. Don’t think that just because nobody was physically hurt, you can avoid a conviction in a fraud case.
Drug Crimes
The war on drugs has been waged for years in America, and there as many different types of lawyers that specialize in drug crimes as there are different types of drugs. There are narcotic attorneys, prescription drug attorneys, and even marijuana defense lawyers. No matter how “accepted” a drug might seem in your area, unless you’re actually legally allowed to possess it, you can be charged with possession. Depending on where you live and what kind of authorities you’re dealing with, of course, some drug charges come with harsher penalties than others. For example, if you’re found guilty of possession of a controlled substance in Indiana within 1,000 feet of a school, housing complex, youth center, or park, you could be sentenced to 20 to 50 years in prison. In Indiana in particular, the penalty associated with a controlled substance conviction depends on what the substance is and how much of it you have. Of course, drugs aren’t the only things that you can get seriously punished for possessing.
Firearm Possession
Many people in America relish their right to bear arms — but the fact is that it’s not always legal for everyone to own firearms. Certain licenses are needed for carrying guns in specific situations, depending on where you live. Lots of people can’t legally own firearms for other reasons specific to them. Of course, just because it looks like you illegally possessed a firearm, doesn’t mean that’s the case. The penalties are often strict in cases like these, so it’s crucial that you have a good attorney if you’re charged.