{"id":351990,"date":"2016-04-04T10:42:08","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T15:42:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/criminal.html"},"modified":"2025-05-19T12:40:22","modified_gmt":"2025-05-19T17:40:22","slug":"criminal","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/criminal.html","title":{"rendered":"Criminal Law"},"content":{"rendered":"
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  1. \n FindLaw <\/a>\n \/<\/span>\n <\/li>\n
  2. Criminal Law<\/li>\n <\/ol>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
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    Criminal Law<\/h1>\n

    Criminal cases are based on charges made by prosecutors when someone violates a criminal statute. Either the state or federal government acts as the opposing party in a criminal case, unlike civil cases, where both parties are private entities.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

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    Felonies and Misdemeanors<\/h2>\n

    Criminal charges are generally categorized as felonies or misdemeanors. This depends on the nature of the crime. Most people who face criminal charges will have their case go through a state court. But, in some circumstances, an individual can be brought up on federal charges.<\/p>\n

    A felony involves serious misconduct that is punishable by death or by imprisonment for more than one year. Most state criminal laws divide felonies into different subcategories with varying degrees of punishment. Crimes that do not amount to felonies are typically called misdemeanors. A misdemeanor is misconduct for which the law prescribes punishment of no more than one year in prison. Lesser offenses, such as traffic and parking tickets, are often called infractions.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n \n\n

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    \n <\/i>\n \n DUI Defense<\/span>\n <\/h3>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n\n
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    \n \n Driving Under the Influence Charges\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n
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    \n \n Basics of DUI Cases\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n
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    \n \n DUI Laws & Resources\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n <\/ul>\n <\/section>\n <\/div>\n \n \n\n DUI Arrest Basics<\/span>\n <\/i>\n <\/a>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n \n\n
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    \n <\/i>\n \n Criminal Law Basics<\/span>\n <\/h3>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n\n
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    \n \n Time Limits for Charges: State Criminal Statutes of Limitations\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n
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    \n \n Classifications of Crimes\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n
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    \n \n Defending Yourself Against a Criminal Charge\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n <\/ul>\n <\/section>\n <\/div>\n \n \n\n Hire a Criminal Defense Lawyer<\/span>\n <\/i>\n <\/a>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n \n\n
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    \n <\/i>\n \n Criminal Charges<\/span>\n <\/h3>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n\n
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    \n \n Homicide Legal Basics\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n
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    \n \n Drug Charge Basics\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n
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    \n \n Sex Crime Basics\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n <\/ul>\n <\/section>\n <\/div>\n \n \n\n See All Criminal Charges<\/span>\n <\/i>\n <\/a>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n \n\n
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    \n <\/i>\n \n Criminal Procedure<\/span>\n <\/h3>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n\n
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    \n \n How To Challenge Unlawful Arrest\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n
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    \n \n Criminal Trial Overview\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n
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    \n \n Sentencing Basics\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n <\/ul>\n <\/section>\n <\/div>\n \n \n\n The Full Arrest Process<\/span>\n <\/i>\n <\/a>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n \n\n
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    \n <\/i>\n \n Your Rights<\/span>\n <\/h3>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n\n
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    \n \n Miranda Rights 101\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n
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    \n \n Search and Seizure Basics\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n
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    \n \n Right to Counsel Basics\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n <\/ul>\n <\/section>\n <\/div>\n \n \n\n What Is Probable Cause?<\/span>\n <\/i>\n <\/a>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n \n\n
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    \n <\/i>\n \n Legal Help for Crimes<\/span>\n <\/h3>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n\n
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    \n \n Criminal Defense Strategies\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n
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    \n \n Get Legal Help With a Criminal Law Matter\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n
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    \n \n Crime Prevention and Victim Resources\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n <\/ul>\n <\/section>\n <\/div>\n \n \n\n Public Defenders by State<\/span>\n <\/i>\n <\/a>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n \n\n
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    \n <\/i>\n \n Expunging Criminal Records<\/span>\n <\/h3>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n\n
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    \n \n Expungement Basics\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n
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    \n \n Expungement Eligibility\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n
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    \n <\/i>\n <\/div>\n
    \n \n The Expungement Process\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n <\/ul>\n <\/section>\n <\/div>\n \n \n\n Expungement Overview<\/span>\n <\/i>\n <\/a>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n \n\n
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    \n <\/i>\n \n Juvenile Justice<\/span>\n <\/h3>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n\n
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    \n \n Juvenile Justice: Background\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n
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    \n \n Juvenile Court Procedure\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n
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    \n \n Juvenile Delinquents\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n <\/ul>\n <\/section>\n <\/div>\n \n \n\n Juvenile Defense Attorneys<\/span>\n <\/i>\n <\/a>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n \n\n
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    \n <\/i>\n \n Criminal Appeals<\/span>\n <\/h3>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n\n
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    \n \n Appeals, Appellate Courts & Costs\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n
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    \n \n Can You Appeal a Plea Bargain?\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n
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    \n \n Writ of Habeas Corpus\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n <\/ul>\n <\/section>\n <\/div>\n \n \n\n Basics for a Criminal Appeal<\/span>\n <\/i>\n <\/a>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n\n
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    Criminal Laws in Your State<\/h2>

    Criminal cases vary based on a number of factors specific to the charges and your state’s unique laws. Find your state below to learn more specific laws.<\/p>\n

    Select your state below<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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