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Follow These Steps and Call the Dunn Law Firm for Your Criminal Defense

If you are facing criminal charges, there is a series of steps to follow in your defense case. Following these steps can help you prepare for your case and educate yourself with information related to the decisions you may have to make. Learn about the criminal defense steps by reading on.

The first step in a criminal case is the arrest or the notices, followed by the booking. If you do not respond to notices, you can be arrested and booked. Then, the first court appearance takes place with 72 hours of arrest. If you do not get bailed out during your first day in jail, you will have a first appearance in court. This appearance, also called the advisory, is where a judge can set your bond amount and advise you on the charges you are facing.

 

Following the advisory is the arraignment. The arraignment takes place 30 to 60 days after the first court appearance. During the arraignment, a plea is given. The three plea options are not guilty, guilty, and no contest. After a plea, formal charges can go into effect between one and 90 days after the arraignment. A discovery then happens within 30 days, followed by the potential of an early resolution or pretrial intervention. A motion to suppress can also happen before pretrial.

Following the pretrial, individuals can go through a hearing, a plea deal, depositions, a trial, and the sentencing. During these steps, you may want to work with a lawyer from the Dunn Law Firm. Contact us to work with an attorney who is dedicated to helping you defend your case. Our team at Adam Dunn Law is professional, skilled, and available to take your case. To talk to an attorney now, call us at 941-866-4352.

Can a Minor Be Charged with a Felony?

When a minor is arrested, parents and guardians are understandably concerned about what the future holds for them. Is the trial process the same one that adults go through, or are children and adolescents subject to different rules and regulations? The answer is that circumstances and specific charges are important here, but felony charges are a possibility when minors commit serious crimes.

 

JUVENILE JUSTICE

Many minors find themselves in juvenile court when they break the law. This court system focuses on rehabilitation so that the minors in question can grow up and avoid legal issues. This differs from adult courts, where the focus is more on punishment and protecting the public from violent or dangerous criminals. With that said, there are a few crimes that could land a minor in the adult legal system and result in felony charges under certain circumstances. These include:

  • Sexual Battery
  • Murder
  • Carjacking
  • Strong-Armed or Armed Robbery
  • Aggravated Assault
  • Burglary
  • Aggravated Battery
  • Home-Invasion Robbery

ADULT COURT

If the minor in question has committed one of the above crimes and meets a few other requirements, they could be tried in adult court. This means that they will be subject to the same laws designed to punish criminals and protect the general public that adults face. This isn’t the most common experience that most minors have, however it is a very real possibility nonetheless. And if the minor is convicted, they could face an extended prison or jail sentence.

SEEK LEGAL COUNSEL

The most important thing you can do for a loved one that is facing potential felony charges is to invest in an experienced attorney. This is especially true when the person in question is a minor that could potentially have the entire trajectory of their lives changed. Reach out to the Dunn Law Firm today at 941-866-4352 or visit our office at 49 N. East Avenue
Sarasota, FL 34237.