There is much that happens early in your case, well in advance of trial. In the beginning, you must learn of your legal rights and enter a plea (as you do in the initial appearance), and the basis for the case against you must be established. There is a screening process to weed out weak cases because forcing you to trial on a vague and unestablished case is inconsistent with your legal rights.
You may be more familiar with another term for an initial appearance – an arraignment. The initial appearance is exactly what its name implies – it is your first time in front of a judge in your criminal case.
OWI arrests throughout Wisconsin often increase dramatically over the holiday season. People celebrate the holidays at gatherings where alcohol is served. Accordingly, police departments increase enforcement efforts during the holiday season to deter and catch drunk drivers. Christmas and New Year’s Eve are among the days when there is the highest number of OWI arrests.
If you have been convicted of certain traffic offenses, you may lose your right to drive for a certain period of time. There are various terms that the law uses for the loss of your ability to drive. The two most common terms are revocation and suspension of your driver’s license. Although these terms are largely the same, there are some key differences of which you should be made aware by your attorney. While you do not have full driving privileges, you will be punished far more seriously when you are caught driving with a revoked license.
What you do after you have been arrested and charged with a crime could dictate whether you face legal consequences and how serious they are. You can help or hurt your own criminal defense based on your own actions. Regardless of the charges against you, there are things that you can do to put yourself in the position to get the best possible legal outcome in your case. Here are four tips for you to consider as you seek to build the strongest possible criminal defense in your case. Hire an Experienced Attorney Immediately You should never try to face the criminal justice system on your own. Law enforcement has seemingly unlimited resources that they can use in your case. You are up against an experienced prosecutor who knows the process well. Although they may have many cases on their docket, they know how to move along the ones that … Continued
Being arrested presents challenges and numerous areas of your life. Besides your mental health and reputation, an arrest could challenge your finances. You will need to have money to pay for legal defense, so you must manage your finances during this time, as difficult as it may seem. You Cannot Spend as if Nothing Is Happening There are no two ways around the fact that you will need to cut back your spending until your case is resolved. If your case involves potential jail time, your family will need to survive while you are in prison. You will also need money to pay for your legal defense. You simply cannot continue to spend like you were before the arrest because a criminal defense costs money. You should inventory your expenses to figure out what you can eliminate or reduce. Ideally, you should reduce your expenditures to the bare minimum possible … Continued
Prescription drugs may have multiple uses. While you may need them for a certain purpose, others may have their own needs for them, some of which may be illegal. Something that is completely legal may cross a line if it is used incorrectly or illegally distributed. You can still face criminal charges for misusing prescription drugs even after your physician had written up a legitimate prescription – in some cases, even when the need was genuine. OWI for Operating a Vehicle Under the Influence It is important that you read the instructions that go along with your prescription drugs. Some may advise you that you should not operate any type of heavy machinery for a certain period of time after taking the medication. Heavy machinery, in this case, will include a car. Some prescriptions may have a similar impact on alcohol or drugs. Wisconsin OWI law is not just centered … Continued
Being arrested and charged with a crime already puts you in enough legal jeopardy. There are things that you can do that can actually make your own legal situation worse. Nearly all of these mistakes are made by people who do not have an experienced criminal defense attorney. The longer you go without legal representation, the more likely you are to make an error that can handicap your criminal defense. What follows are common mistakes that defendants make that may increase the chances of being convicted or can lead to stiffer penalties when they are sentenced. You should retain counsel immediately to avoid making them. Speaking to Law Enforcement (Especially Without an Attorney Present) Some people may think that they can just give their side of the story to law enforcement and talk their way out of trouble. Talking is perhaps the worst thing that you can do after you … Continued
Many people think that the protections of the legal system are enough to keep an innocent person from being convicted of a crime. However, the mere fact that an innocent person is in the court system is a large problem in itself. They are subject to an extreme amount of pressure and stress. They must also expend large amounts of money on legal defense. Any time that someone is in the legal system, there is a risk of conviction and jail time. If you have been charged with a crime that you did not commit, you need an attorney immediately.
Hogan Eickhoff was voted ‘Best Law Firm’ and ‘Best Criminal Defense Law Firm” by Best of Wisconsin Law Journal! Our team is passionate about practicing criminal law and you can always expect excellent defense, no matter the accusation. “The legal team at Hogan Eickhoff understands the workings of criminal law and the criminal justice system and use that knowledge to help get clients the results they deserve.” Read more.