It is very likely that if you live in the state, that one day you will be deeply in need of criminal defense in Illinois. The criminal process in the state of Illinois consists of the following steps: stop, search, arrest, booking, appointment of attorney, arraignment, bail, trial, appeals, and expungement. Criminal defense plays the largest part in the steps of that take place after the booking.
Appointment of attorney
While it is not the first step in the criminal process, it is the first step in criminal defense in Illinois. It is one of the more important decisions you will make, as it will have a profound affect on how your case turns out. You will not always have a lot of time to choose a lawyer, so make sure you know how to find a good lawyer before you actually need one. Focus on lawyers who are not only criminal defense attorneys, but have had a substantial amount of practice dealing with the specific type of offense that you have been accused of committing. Some of the more well known and qualified attorneys that practice in the state of Illinois include: The Johnson Law Group, Ramsell & Associates, LLC; The Law Office of Terry W. Dodds, and Wolfe & Stec, Ltd. This is not meant to be a comprehensive list as there are plenty of other well qualified lawyers in the state of Illinois who will be able to argue your case with success.
Arraignment
The arraignment is a type of court case that will occur after charges have been filed against you. If you are put into prison, then it will happen 72 hours after you have been arrested. When this arraignment is taking place, you will have to give your plea to the court. This plea can be one of 4 different pleas: guilty, not guilty, no contest, and mute. Keep in mind that if you plead guilty or no contest, then there will be no trial. You will immediately be sentenced. Also occurring during the arraignment is the setting of bail, refusal of bail, or being released on your own recognizance.
The Trial
The trial is when criminal defense in Illinois truly is the most important. After all, without a lawyer to represent you, you are pretty much left to your own devices. During this time you will also be given the opportunity to make plea bargains.
