Their only experience with police officers may have been a quick stop on the highway for a speeding ticket. For people who have never before been charged with a crime, facing criminal charges is certain to be disturbing. However, our system of justice was carefully designed to prevent people from being unfairly convicted by guaranteeing many legal rights to anyone charged with a crime. This chapter will discuss those rights, provide you with a basic understanding of the steps in the criminal justice system, and suggest where you can look for more help. It is important to be informed about the criminal law in your state.
Most crimes are punishable under state, rather than federal, laws.
Although all states must comply with certain federal constitutional minimums, there are considerable variations from one state to another. For example, some state constitutions provide a higher degree of personal and procedural rights to the criminally accused than others. Therefore, the information in this chapter will generally be true in most states, but may not be true in all. Although FindLaw tries to provide accurate and current information, the ideas, information, and conclusions provided here may differ depending on local, state and federal laws and regulations and court cases. Given the different possible applications and interpretations of the law, you are urged to consult professional legal counsel regarding the applicability of legal issues discussed here to any specific legal problem you may have.