Misdemeanors

Misdemeanors are a criminal offense that fall in the middle between a felony and a summary offense. It is not as severe as a felony, yet it is still much worse than a summary offense. Such a charge very likely will require a misdemeanor lawyer Erie PA. Examples include Retail Theft or Driving Under the Influence. In most cases, if someone is charged with a misdemeanor, they will be punished with either probation or in some instances, imprisonment in a local county jail.

Misdemeanor crimes on ones record can often be difficult to explain away and impossible to expunge. As a result, if you are charged with a misdemeanor, it is very likely, if not addressed appropriately, that it will impact your school, and employment potential.

Moving to federal law on misdemeanors, they have much more strict guidelines than the individual states do. They have a sentencing chart that has fixed values for each offense based on the severity, criminal history, and other pertaining elements. This chart also has set adjustments and departures based on mitigation factors, including law-enforcement cooperation and taking responsibility for their actions early on.

If you have been charged with a misdemeanor, then the next step is to seek out a local criminal defense attorney that can help you through the process.  They are highly experienced and know how to dissect your case to give you the most favorable outcome. You may be able to avoid jail time with the right advocate by your side.  Being charged is scary, but talk to a lawyer as soon as possible to give you clarity and help you with your case.