Green Bay Criminal Defense Lawyer

A criminal conviction can change your life. If you are convicted of a criminal offense, you can potentially lose your liberty by serving time in prison or on probation, suffer financially through paying fines, restitution, and surcharges, lose certain rights like the right to own firearms and the right to vote, and suffer a damaged social and professional reputation from the stigma attached to being a convicted criminal.

A criminal charge is not a conviction. When you are charged with a crime, you are formally accused of committing a specific offense – but you will not face the penalties discussed above unless and until the court finds you to be guilty of the crime beyond a reasonable level of doubt. This is where an effective legal defense strategy comes into play. Through your legal defense strategy, you can demonstrate your innocence to the court. Work with an experienced criminal defense lawyer to develop a defense strategy tailored to your case. Though many others have faces and currently face your charge, your case is unique. An effective defense strategy is as unique as your case’s circumstances.

Criminal Cases We Handle

Our team works with individuals facing the following types of criminal charge:

• Drug possession;
• Drug trafficking;
• Operating while intoxicated (OWI);
• Disorderly conduct;
• Embezzlement;
• Sexual assault;
• Exploitation of a minor;
• Possession of child pornography;
• Solicitation of prostitution;
• Fraud;
• Computer tampering;
• Money laundering;
• Identity theft;
• Counterfeiting;
• Bribery;
• Parole and probation violations; and
• Domestic violence.

Our team works with adults facing criminal charges as well as juveniles facing juvenile charges. Juvenile cases are handled by the Division of Juvenile Corrections, a separate division of the Wisconsin Department of Corrections.

Additionally, our team helps individuals have their criminal records expunged. An expungement is the legal process of having a charge removed from the public version of your criminal record, so prospective employers and others cannot see it on routine background checks.

Know your Rights

A critical part of effectively defending your case against a criminal charge is knowing and exercising your civil and constitutional rights. You have these rights at every stage of the criminal justice process, from the moment you are arrested through the trial process, and while you are incarcerated or under supervision. These rights include:

• The right to remain silent during interactions with law enforcement. You are not obligated to answer an officer’s questions during your arrest
• The right to have a lawyer present during critical phases of your investigation. Critical phases of an investigation are the phases where crucial information about an alleged crime are discovered, like an interrogation of the suspect;
• The right to refuse to give consent for a search of your person, vehicle, or home if an officer does not have a valid search warrant;
• The right to be treated humanely by police while in custody, which means that when physical handling is required, the officer may not use excessive force;
• The right to cross-examine witnesses during your trial;
• The right to refuse to provide testimony and make any other statements that would incriminate you;
• The right to a speedy trial by a jury; and
• The right to have all the degrees of guilt for your charge and the factors that determine them explained to you.

If you are found guilty and you feel the law was somehow misapplied to your case, you also have the right to appeal the court’s decision to potentially have it overturned. You also have the right to request have certain pieces of evidence removed from the trial if you feel they were obtained illegally. Your lawyer can explain all of your rights to you in greater detail and advise you about when to invoke certain specific rights while you are in custody, while you are preparing for your trial, and while you are on trial.

Why you Should Work with a Criminal Defense Lawyer

You can represent yourself in court. This is known as pro se representation. This is not the recommended course of action, though, because you are not a criminal defense lawyer and thus do not have the knowledge and experience necessary to effectively defend your case against a criminal charge. And even if you are a criminal defense lawyer, you will benefit from having another lawyer represent your case because he or she is detached from it in a way that you cannot be.

Your lawyer will examine your case thoroughly to determine the right defense strategy to use. Your defense might hinge on the lack of evidence linking you to an incident that occurred or overwhelming evidence that shows that you were not the individual who committed the offense. He or she can work with you to obtain the evidence you need and make full use of it.

Your lawyer will also advise you about how to interact with law enforcement and the court. He or she can help you prepare for your deposition and for your courtroom appearance by walking you through how to answer the questions you will likely face. He or she can also advise you on the actions to take at key junctions in the criminal justice process, such as whether accepting a plea deal is the right choice for you.

Work with an Experienced Criminal Defense Lawyer in Green Bay

When you are charged with a criminal offense, work with an experienced criminal defense lawyer to fight the charge and potentially have it downgraded or dismissed. In nearly every instance, working with a criminal defense lawyer will result in a better outcome for you than you would have if you had represented yourself, even if you are ultimately found guilty of a criminal offense. To learn more about working with a criminal defense lawyer and to start developing your defense strategy, contact our team at Hammett, Bellin & Oswald, LLC today to schedule your initial legal consultation with us.