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Circuit State Courts View All Case Law United States Code (USC) Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) U.S. Constitution California Code Delaware Code Florida Code Illinois Code New York Code Texas Code View All State and Federal Codes Legal Professionals Legal Professionals Legal Professional Resources Law Firm Marketing Blogs Find a Lawyer Search Legal Topics Begin typing to search, use arrow keys to navigate, use enter to select My legal issue More Options Name Search Browse Legal Issues Browse Law Firms Support I need help near (city, ZIP code or country) Enter either your legal issue or location to continue Find a Lawyer Enter either your legal issue or location to continue Search by legal topic Enter legal topic Get the information Enter legal topic Criminal Law Criminal cases are based on charges made by prosecutors when someone violates a criminal statute. Either the state or federal government acts as the opposing party in a criminal case, unlike civil cases, where both parties are private entities. Criminal charges are generally categorized as felonies or misdemeanors. This depends on the nature of the crime. Most people who face criminal charges will have their case go through a state court. But, in some circumstances, an individual can be brought up on federal charges. Find a qualified attorney near you Enter legal issue and location My legal issue I need help near (city, ZIP code or county) Begin typing to search, use arrow keys to navigate, use enter to select Popular Directory Searches More Options Name Search Browse Legal Issues Browse Law Firms Support Felonies and Misdemeanors A felony involves serious misconduct that is punishable by death or by imprisonment for more than one year. Most state criminal laws divide felonies into different subcategories with varying degrees of punishment. Crimes that do not amount to felonies are typically called misdemeanors. A misdemeanor is misconduct for which the law prescribes punishment of no more than one year in prison. Lesser offenses, such as traffic and parking tickets, are often called infractions. DUI Defense Driving Under the Influence Charges Basics of DUI Cases DUI Laws & Resources DUI Arrest Basics Criminal Law Basics Time Limits for Charges: State Criminal Statutes of Limitations Classifications of Crimes Defending Yourself Against a Criminal Charge Hire a Criminal Defense Lawyer Criminal Charges Homicide Legal Basics Drug Charge Basics Sex Crime Basics See All Criminal Charges Criminal Procedure How To Challenge Unlawful Arrest Criminal Trial Overview Sentencing Basics The Full Arrest Process Your Rights Miranda Rights 101 Search and Seizure Basics Right to Counsel Basics What Is Probable Cause? 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Select your state below Show all states Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington DC West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Virginia Pennsylvania Tennessee West Virginia Nevada Texas New Hampshire New York Hawaii Vermont New Mexico North Carolina North Dakota Nebraska Louisiana South Dakota Delaware Florida Connecticut Washington Kansas Wisconsin Oregon Kentucky Maine Ohio Oklahoma Idaho Wyoming Utah Indiana Illinois Alaska New Jersey Colorado Maryland Massachusetts Alabama Missouri Minnesota California Iowa Michigan Georgia Arizona Montana Mississippi South Carolina Rhode Island Arkansas Washington DCWhen Do I Need a Criminal Defense Attorney? A qualified criminal defense attorney is often a crucial advocate for anyone charged with a crime. These attorneys are very familiar with local criminal procedures and laws – some may have even first worked as prosecutors. Most defense lawyers should be able to handle any misdemeanor or low-level crime. But not all lawyers are qualified to handle serious charges. Some courts don’t allow inexperienced attorneys to represent defendants facing capital punishment, for example. Search your state for criminal defense attorneys , then narrow down the attorney options by your city and preferences in FindLaw’s Attorney Directory. You Don’t Have To Solve This on Your Own – Get a Lawyer’s Help Meeting with a lawyer can help you understand your options and how to best protect your rights. Visit our attorney directory to find a lawyer near you who can help. Or contact an attorney near you: SPONSORED Levine & McHenry LLC Criminal Defense Lawyers Serving Portland, OR Super Lawyers ® 2 Learn More 503-868-4858 CALL NOW A Criminal Defense firm representing clients in Portland, OR. Next Steps: Contact a qualified attorney for legal services focused on criminal charges. Enter information. (Required) City, ZIP code or county Begin typing to search, use arrow keys to navigate, use enter to select. Error: Enter your location to continue. Find a Lawyer Find Help for These Areas: Criminal Defense DUI and DWI Charges Traffic Tickets Copied to clipboardQuestions? At FindLaw.com, we pride ourselves on being the number one source of free legal information and resources on the web. Contact us. Stay up-to-date with how the law affects your...