Contact a St. Louis domestic violence attorney if you have been accused of committing a crime involving a violent act against a person or household member. You will need proper legal counsel to assist you to avoid the stiff penalties of the charges. Remain calm and let a St. Louis domestic violence attorney to examine your situation and prepare a sound defense for your case. If you are arrested for a domestic violence-related offense, your future lies on the line. A lawyer who can assess your situation and give you sound advice about the charges you are facing is absolutely essential. In St. Louis, just like in most parts of the country, domestic violence laws are very complex and can be difficult to understand.
The information in this article is designed to be used for reference purposes only. It should not be used as, in place of or in conjunction with professional legal advice regarding any particular matter. Before deciding on whether or not to hire a St. Louis domestic violence attorney, it is recommended that you research them to see how much experience they have in defending people who have been accused of domestic violence. It is also advisable that you contact a number of different attorneys to get a variety of opinions and experiences regarding the charges you are facing. Only after considering all the options should you decide to consult a St. Louis criminal attorney.
It is very common for innocent people to be accused of crimes, even though they may not be. An experienced St. Louis criminal attorney will know when a person is being framed by the police or by the prosecuting attorney’s office for domestic violence charges. Experienced criminal defense lawyers will also be familiar with local legal procedures and that procedures must be followed when something goes wrong. An experienced St. Louis domestic violence attorney will have the resources to find out what legal steps to take and will know how to utilize the local courts to get the best results. A lawyer who has access to the court records on a case can do valuable research regarding the validity of police allegations and police interviewing techniques.
There are two different classifications of assault, first degree and second degree. A Lennon domestic violence attorney may choose to specialize his or her practice in either the first or the second degree classification of assault. Charges that fall in the first degree classification are punishable by a sentence of one year to three years, while those that fall in the second degree category are punishable by a sentence of up to five years. First and second degree assault are both punishable by a year to a year and a half in prison.
Second degree crimes are more serious than first degree ones. These are punishable by prison sentences of up to seven years. A St. Louis criminal law firm will often focus their attention on cases that come under this classification. If there is reasonable doubt as to whether a defendant has committed a first or second degree crime, he or she may be acquitted. The St. Louis criminal law firm may present its case in court, if the prosecuting attorney does not have enough evidence to prove the accusation.
During questioning by the police, the St. Louis domestic violence attorney, along with his or her client, will have to provide many details that are used to prove the crime. Mr. Combs’ expertise lies in working closely with the arresting officer so he can get the police to admit their evidence. It can be emotionally draining work for clients who have been accused of crimes they did not commit. Mr. Combs believes it is absolutely essential to have a St. Louis criminal defense law firm with an experienced and skilled attorney on board. “We don’t just win cases for our clients, we also help them feel confident going forward,” he says.