Criminal Defense in Huntsville, AL

What Is a Criminal Defense Lawyer?

Because a criminal conviction can have serious consequences, you want an experienced Huntsville, Alabama attorney on your side.

These attorneys research the facts of your case so you can have peace of mind. By performing their investigation, criminal defense attorneys put you in a better position to negotiate a deal with the prosecutors, possibly resulting in reduced charges, a lower bail amount, less sentencing time, and even possibly dismissed charges. Put simply, hiring a defense lawyer in Huntsville, AL is the most effective way to protect your rights.

Unfortunately, the Alabama criminal process more than likely leads to costly fines, jail time, and possible incarceration for those who do not have competent legal counsel.

As jails become increasingly overcrowded, criminal defense attorneys work with prosecutors to reduce the time that you may spend in jail. They do this by formulating a plea, reviewing the procedure of the search and seizure, questioning witnesses, gathering evidence, assessing the potential sentence, and investigating the prosecutor’s case. Furthermore, your Huntsville criminal defense lawyer helps you understand the complex criminal justice system.

Hiring a Criminal Defense Lawyer in Huntsville, Alabama

Hiring a criminal defense lawyer gives you access to a Huntsville professional who defends you aggressively. This means you have someone standing beside you when you face the judge. If you are looking to hire a compassionate and committed criminal defense lawyer in Huntsville, AL who is ready to help represent you in court, we have lawyers who are standing by in all areas of law throughout multiple locations in the United States. Get in contact with us today.

What Is the Difference Between Parole and Probation?

If you are facing criminal charges in Huntsville you may have an option for either parole or probation. While their names are similar, these two concepts are vastly different. Your criminal defense attorney can help you understand these alternatives to incarceration.

Probation

Probation is typically an alternative to jail or prison. There are times when a judge may order a defendant to serve probation. If you are on probation, you will be under a certain set of guidelines. Furthermore, there will also likely be strict supervision rules.

Because of this, Alabama laws are in place to force you to submit to warrantless searches without any probable cause.

When granted probation, the court typically allows you to demonstrate your commitment to rehabilitation. However, securing probation instead of incarceration often requires a strong legal defense. To avoid the possibility of a prison sentence, seeking legal advice as early as possible is crucial.

While probation keeps you out of jail, it often comes with stringent conditions similar to incarceration. These may include mandatory participation in rehabilitation programs, adherence to a curfew, and regular drug testing.

In Huntsville, Alabama you may be also required to pay restitution, court costs, a fine, and any other fees. The length of time you are on probation may drastically range, depending on the initial crime and your previous history.  

Alabama gives judges wide discretion in determining the length of probation in Huntsville. However, the maximum duration for probations is 2 years for misdemeanors and 5 years for felonies.

Probation Revoked

If you do not follow the precise instructions a judge gives you, the judge may revoke your probation. This typically results in incarceration. Furthermore, depending on the nature of your violation, you may receive an additional sentence beyond your initial one.

If a Huntsville judge sentences you to probation, you will typically report to the Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Paroles. There is a field office and a day reporting center in Huntsville. If you violate the terms of your probation, you can be arrested and held in custody for up to 20 days, pending a violation hearing.

Under Alabama law, you have the right to have a Huntsville attorney represent you at the hearing. If you are found to have violated your probation, you can be sentenced to spend up to 45 days in jail. However, the sentence can be longer if the violation involves an additional criminal charge.

Typically, a probation officer oversees your probation, ensuring you comply with its terms and monitoring your progress. This officer submits regular reports to the court, meaning any noncompliance is likely to be brought to the judge’s attention. If you fail to meet the conditions of your probation, the judge may revoke it and impose a jail sentence. A , criminal defense attorney can provide valuable assistance if you are facing probation violation charges.

Parole

Instead of interacting with a probation officer, parole requires you to report to a parole officer. A parole officer will outline any expectations you are to meet.  In addition to the rules of your parole. He or she also monitors your progress and reports back to the court and the parole board.

Parole is a term to refers to the period that comes after a release from incarceration. Just as with probation, there are usually many conditions and safeguards that you must follow during your parole.

After you are released from incarceration, you will typically be assigned to a parole officer with the Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Paroles. You must report to your parole officer at the Huntsville field office within 72 hours of your release. Common conditions of parole can include regular drug testing, attendance at Alcoholics Anonymous, job training, and mental health treatment.

If you violate the terms of your parole, your violation will be reviewed by a parole court. Alabama legislation gives you the right to representation during the violation hearing. For minor violations, you may be sent to jail for a few days or weeks. However, a major violation can send you back to prison to serve the remainder of your original sentence.

If you violate the terms of your parole, the parole board may require you to finish the remaining time of your sentence. Certain violations, though, may result in additional charges and a longer incarceration time resulting in the need for a Huntsville, AL criminal defense attorney.

Work With an Experienced Local Huntsville, Alabama Criminal Defense Lawyer

A Huntsville criminal defense attorney works with the prosecuting attorney to determine a beneficial outcome in your criminal case.

You may not want to go through the criminal justice process alone. By working together to negotiate an affordable bond or a later plea deal, an experienced Huntsville, AL criminal defense lawyer uses all available resources and relationships with prosecutors to negotiate the best possible outcome for your criminal defense case. He or she may also help you seek a dismissal of your criminal complaint.

If you or a loved one is facing criminal charges in any state, contact our team to learn how we can connect you with a reputable criminal defense attorney near you. We can even help you connect with an attorney across Alabama state lines.

Submit a request online or call us today at (866) 345-6784 to get in touch with an experienced lawyer in your area!

About the Author

Aaron is a professional legal writer with a B.S. in English Education from Southern Illinois University – Carbondale. He has written, published, and edited thousands of legal articles for RequestLegalHelp, which has connected over 5 million people to legal help in the United States.

With over five years of experience writing thousands of legal articles for law firms across the U.S. and Canada, Aaron specializes in covering federal, state, and city-level legal issues ranging from auto accidents to wrongful terminations.

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