Understanding Your Criminal Charges

If you face a criminal charge, you may find it difficult to understand your criminal charges. You may wonder exactly what they are and when you’ll find out how you’ll be charged. This is very common, especially for individuals arrested for a felony.

Our Lead Criminal Defense Attorney Ryan Robertson provides some insight on this topic so you can better understand your criminal charges.

Charged with a Crime? Get a Lawyer.

If you have a criminal case, you are more likely to get a better outcome when you have an attorney fighting for you. Schedule a case assessment with a member of our Criminal Defense Team when you call 303-688-0944 or click here.

Understand Your Criminal Charges

A common question our criminal defense attorneys receive from clients is when they will know exactly what they are being charged with by the state. The answer depends on whether you face misdemeanor or felony charges.

Misdemeanor Charges

You will typically be given something called a summons if you’ve been charged with a petty offense or a misdemeanor.

Take a traffic ticket, for example. You will see an X in the corner of your ticket that notes what the law enforcement officer believes you were doing, such as speeding, careless driving, or DUI.

For other misdemeanors, you will receive a summons and it will be marked with, for instance, assault, harassment, or another misdemeanor violation.

Felony Charges

If you are charged with a felony, you will have to wait until your first court appearance to learn exactly what the state is charging you with.

With felonies, you typically won’t find that out until your first appearance date. That’s when you’ll get a complaint and information served upon you. The complaint lists the actual charges that the district attorney plans to pursue against you. While the police may have arrested you and charged you for one thing, the complaint by the D.A. could have multiple charges that were not considered by the police.

Get Help with Your Criminal Case

It’s so important to have a zealous and experienced criminal defense attorney to help you understand your charges and to make sure your rights are protected. Felony and misdemeanor charges can permanently change your life. Do not risk it trying to work this out on your own.

If you have a question about the above content or need help with your criminal case, please call us at 303-688-0944 to begin your case assessment with a member of our Criminal Defense Team.