When you face criminal charges, your reputation, future opportunities, and freedom may be on the line. It is critical to work with an experienced attorney to defend you.
Our Cranberry Township criminal defense lawyers provide aggressive and compassionate representation no matter the charge. Call us as soon as you are arrested to help protect your rights, develop an effective defense, and obtain the best result possible.
Criminal offenses range from relatively minor infractions to violent crimes that result in significant injuries or death. Pennsylvania’s penal laws classify crimes according to their seriousness; each category carries a potential sentence.
Summary offenses are the least severe category of crimes. Many of these can be resolved with payment of restitution, community service, an agreement to engage in counseling or treatment, or similar measures. Some examples include underage drinking, harassment, trespassing, and disorderly conduct.
Our Cranberry Township defense attorneys could possibly resolve a summary offense without creating a criminal record. However, an accused should never take a summary offense charge lightly. A potential sentence on conviction is up to 90 days in jail and a $300 fine, although some summary traffic offenses are punishable by much higher fines.
Misdemeanors are more serious crimes than summary offenses. There are three categories: third-degree, the least severe, second-degree, and first-degree misdemeanors, which are the most serious at this tier.
Theft of property valued at less than $50 is a third-degree misdemeanor. However, theft is a second-degree misdemeanor when the property has a value between $50 and $200. When the property is valued between $200 and $2000, the crime is a first-degree misdemeanor.
The potential jail sentence for a third-degree misdemeanor generally ranges from probation upon conviction to up to one year. The sentence could be as long as two years upon conviction of a second-degree misdemeanor and up to five years for a first-degree misdemeanor. Fines are hefty, ranging from $1000 to $10,000.
The most serious crimes are classified as felonies, which are categorized as first, second, or third-degree offenses. These include criminal trespass, some gun crimes, and theft of a motor vehicle third-degree felonies.
Sexual assault, aggravated assault, and theft of property valued between $100,000 and $500,000 are examples of second-degree felonies. First-degree felonies include murder, assault with a deadly weapon, theft of property valued at more than $500,000, and rape.
A criminal record can limit an offender’s future opportunities. Even a conviction for a traffic offense can mean higher insurance rates for years and might disqualify an applicant from specific jobs requiring a clean driving history.
When the crime is more serious, the long-term consequences are as well. A conviction for a misdemeanor could limit job opportunities and impact the immigration status of offenders who are not citizens. Felony convictions can eliminate a person’s right to vote and possess firearms. Convicted felons are barred from many professions and may be unable to obtain a business license in some industries.
Any criminal conviction could reduce a person’s chances of obtaining housing, higher education, credit, and public assistance. When the offender is eligible, a Cranberry Township defense lawyer could apply for an expungement or permanent erasure of a criminal record. In other cases, they could help obtain a pardon or seal a criminal record.
Depending on the charges and the accused’s criminal history, resolving a charge outside the criminal courts is sometimes possible. For example, PA Rule of Criminal Procedure 310 allows courts to refer people facing some drug and drunk driving offenses to Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition for treatment and defer adjudication of the charge. When the offender completes the program, the charges are dismissed and usually eligible for expungement.
Whether you face a charge for a summary offense or a violent felony, our Cranberry Township criminal defense lawyers could work tirelessly to achieve a favorable outcome.
Do not try to handle a criminal charge without knowledgeable counsel. Contact us as soon as you are arrested.