Types of Criminal Cases

Individuals who find themselves facing criminal charges in any jurisdiction need to retain experienced legal counsel immediately. Such charges carry the most severe penalties in the American legal system, and only legitimate, seasoned criminal defense attorneys can assure the protection of your rights.

If you face criminal charges in the state of Maryland, then the attorneys at Houlon, Berman, Bergman, Finci, Levenstein & Skok can help you understand the charges you face and the best strategy for protecting yourself.

Drunk driving and traffic offenses

All states maintain laws that criminalize the operation of a motor vehicle while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. While each state maintains its own unique set of criteria and penalties related to these crimes, no state takes such a criminal offense lightly. Crimes, such drunk driving, can potentially mean severe fines, higher insurance rates, incarceration and other punishments that can impact your life for years, or even decades to come.

Felonies

Felonies are criminal charges punishable by at least one year in prison. However, the penalties for violating a felony are often far more severe, and may include severe fines and a restrictions in your rights and freedoms for the rest of your life. Criminal defense lawyers are in the best position to defend you from exceptionally serious charges such as these.

Violent crime

Violent crimes are criminal offenses in which the perpetrator is alleged to have used or threatened to use violence or physical force on their victims. Because violent crimes place innocent people in direct threat of harm, authorities deal with such crimes far more harshly than offenses with no violent element. Some common examples of violent crimes include:

• Armed robbery
• Aggravated assault or battery
• Kidnapping
• Murder
• Terrorist threats
• Hijacking

These crimes often fall under the category of felonies.

Drug offenses

Drug offenses run the gamut from simply possessing an amount of a controlled substance to selling large amounts of such substances, but no drug crime in the United States should be considered trivial. Convictions in drug-related charges often lead to:

• Heavy fines
• Jail time
• Suspension of driving license
• Permanent criminal record

The severity of such penalties depends a great deal on the amount of drugs involved, the kind of activity engaged in, and the area in which the crime is alleged to have occurred.

Juvenile cases

Juvenile criminal charges can have a tremendous impact on the future life of a child, damaging his or her scholastic and career opportunities. Children convicted of crimes can also be placed into state custody under certain circumstances.

Contact Our Lawyers

The lawyers at Houlon, Berman, Bergman, Finci, Levenstein & Skok are proud to hold a Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings^TM certification of AV®. We can assist with criminal defense cases in Maryland, including Rockville, Greenbelt, College Park, Upper Marlboro and the District of Columbia. Please contact us today for a free consultation.