Criminal law deals with cases where the local, state, or federal government seeks to punish someone for an act that is considered a crime. A criminal attorney is required to represent someone who has been charged with a crime. A criminal charge can be imposed on a person for felonies or felonies such as murder or rape, as well as misdemeanors such as petty theft or reckless crossing.

The process of charging a person with a crime and administering a punishment is quite similar. An experienced attorney will successfully deal with prosecutors in court and should be able to prove that you are an innocent client.

In Atlanta, as in all states, the Constitution gives defendants the right to a lawyer, if the state is trying to deprive the defendant of their liberty. This means that the state has to appoint an attorney for the defendant if one cannot afford a private attorney.

Atlanta criminal attorneys must be familiar with all federal, state, and local government legal provisions. The procedure for a criminal charge in Atlanta begins with an arrest or citation that outlines the reason for the arrest. Copies of these reports are sent to the prosecutor’s office that initiates and processes criminal cases. Once these prosecutors have obtained sufficient evidence, the legal proceedings begin.

When choosing an Atlanta criminal attorney, there are many points to consider. The most important points are knowing how much experience the attorney has in criminal law and the extent of the attorney’s track record in similar cases. Another important point is to make sure that your attorney considers all the possible outcomes of your case. For example, could arbitration or mediation settle the case? Finally, what is an estimate of the total bill and how will the bill be paid?

Information on Atlanta criminal attorneys is available in the yellow pages, through search engines such as Google and Yahoo on the Internet, and through law firm advertisements. There are also attorney directories available on the internet that provide comprehensive information on Atlanta criminal attorneys. Information is also available through the county bar association and other professional bar associations such as the American Bar Association. Friends and family members are other sources of information.