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Criminal law usually involves the police, prosecuting attorneys, and the possibility of jail time and/or fines if there's a conviction. More on Criminal Defense >
Criminal law usually involves the police, prosecuting attorneys, and the possibility of jail time and/or fines if there's a conviction. There are very few situations where it's appropriate for you to defend yourself in a criminal matter, and it's important to make sure that you find a lawyer who is familiar with the area of criminal law to defend you.
People who are accused of stealing or misusing property, such as by theft or embezzlement, have been charged with a property crime. By contrast, persons charged with crimes against a person, such as assault, robbery, child or domestic abuse, and forced sexual offenses, are involved with violent crimes. When a juvenile is charged with violating any criminal law, the case is heard at least initially in a special division of the state's regular trial court that is reserved for juveniles (each state defines "juvenile" in its own way). Some cases will remain in juvenile court, while others (particularly grave offenses) may be transferred to regular trial court, where the juvenile is tried as an adult. Some driving violations are mere infractions (punishable with only a fine) and aren't considered criminal offenses. But many driving violations carry the possibility of jail time too, which makes them criminal offenses. These include driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, reckless driving, and various other serious violations of the rules of the road.
