what kind of attorney do i need to reduce a felony?

by Aida Hermann 9 min read

An criminal lawyer can assist you with a felony expungement. An experienced expungement lawyer can advise you on the process, assist with all steps and represent you during any court proceedings. You must file a petition with the court, follow procedural rules, present evidence to support the expungement request and possibly testify.

Full Answer

How do I get a felony reduced to a misdemeanor?

Feb 09, 2021 · A felony reduction lawyer can help determine if a charge is eligible to be reduced from a felony to a misdemeanor. Do I Need an Attorney for Help with Felony Expungement? An criminal lawyer can assist you with a felony expungement. An experienced expungement lawyer can advise you on the process, assist with all steps and represent you during ...

Do I need a lawyer to get a sentence reduction?

Sometimes an attorney will work in to a plea agreement that the offense may be reduced from a felony to a misdemeanor upon an event, such as: successful completion of probation, half your probation, rehab, etc. However, you still must file a motion and have the court order the matter a …

How can I reduce my criminal charges?

Jul 29, 2020 · There is paperwork that must be filed with the district attorney, prosecutor, and by the defendant in order to reduce any charges. Panghetti Law can assist with this process and knows the ins and outs in order to make the process as painless as possible.

Can I reduce my sentence after a criminal conviction?

How Do I Know I Am Eligible to Reduce My Felony Conviction to a Misdemeanor? Penal Code 17b basically says that the District Attorney and Judges can Reduce Your Felony to a Misdemeanor at any time before, during, or after your conviction. If you have a misdemeanor, there is also a chance you can reduce it to an Infraction.

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How can I get my felony charges dropped?

The 5 most common ways to get a felony charge dropped are (1) to show a lack of probable cause, (2) to demonstrate a violation of your constitutional rights, (3) to accept a plea agreement, (4) to cooperate with law enforcement in another case, or (5) to enter a pretrial diversion program.Jun 11, 2021

Can a felony be expunged?

A felony conviction remains on an individual's criminal record for life. The only way to remove it is through expungement. It can be possible to have felony conviction expunged from an individual's record. There are usually state specific criteria that must be met prior to petitioning the court for an expungement.Feb 9, 2021

How long does a felony show up on a background check?

Expunging a Felony Given that felonies will show up on your record for seven years when a background check is run, there is only one way to keep criminal convictions from showing up. The exception for reporting a conviction is when felons have had their records expunged or sealed at the time of the background check.Dec 7, 2021

What can a felon not do?

What Rights Do Convicted Felons Lose?Voting.Traveling abroad.The right to bear arms or own guns.Jury service.Employment in certain fields.Public social benefits and housing.Parental benefits.

When Should I Try to Reduce My sentence?

The time to file a motion to modify sentence is during the sentencing portion of the trial. Once the motion is filed, the judge will then conduct a...

What Can Increase My Chances to Reduce My sentence?

At one point, you will need to ask your attorney to file a motion to modify your sentence. It is up to the court to accept the modification. There...

What Are The Chances of My Motion Succeeding?

Ultimately, the factor involved for your motion succeed or not succeeding rest entirely on the judge’s decision. One of the most common reasons for...

What If My Sentence was “Illegal”?

In rare cases, you might have been handed down an illegal sentence. This is when the sentence cannot apply to you, due to a wide range of reasons:...

Do I Need A Lawyer’S Help?

Most people don’t know that they have the opportunity to reduce their sentence. If you are willing to meet the requirements for reducing your sente...

Is probation a felony?

If you were sentenced to state prison, whether initially, or as a result of a probation violation, the offense is forever a felony. If you were sentenced to a particular term in state prison, and that sentence was stayed, and you were placed on probation it is a felony.

Can a felony be reduced to a misdemeanor?

A reduction from a felony to a misdemeanor does not happen automatically, even if you are eligible. Sometimes an attorney will work in to a plea agreement that the offense may be reduced from a felony to a misdemeanor upon an event, such as: successful completion of probation, half your probation, rehab, etc.

Can a felony be reduced to a misdemeanor?

While being charged with any crime is not ideal, being charged with a felony offense with having a more lasting and significant impact on your life than a misdemeanor. In some cases, a felony can be reduced to a misdemeanor with certain crimes that are a bit on-the-fence, or ones that can be classified and charged as either type of offense.

What happens if you get charged with a felony?

Once charged with a felony, you will find many obstacles in your path to getting your life back on track. With a felony, you are more likely to face jail time, pay higher fines to the court, and have a hard time getting a good-paying job.

How long does a felony stay on your record?

When faced with a felony, the charges will remain on your record for seven years. Convicted felons lose many rights, and their lives are directly impacted by these charges. Even if you do not see jail time for a felony, the effects can last and be damaging to you and your family.

What are the penalties for a crime?

A criminal sentence is a legal punishment imposed upon a defendant who was convicted of a crime. Criminal sentencing varies by state and jurisdiction, with each making their own laws unless they are prohibited by federal law. There are commonalities in sentencing throughout the United States, including a penalty following a criminal conviction. Penalties may include: 1 Incarceration; 2 Fines; 3 Probation or parole; and/or 4 Community service.

What is retroactive law?

A retroactive law is a law that is passed that applies both to future circumstances and previous instances of the same crime or sentence. If a defendant is proactive during the legal process, there may be ways to reduce their criminal sentence and the time spent away from family, friends, and freedom. This article will provide information regarding ...

What is a criminal sentence?

A criminal sentence is a legal punishment imposed upon a defendant who was convicted of a crime.

Can a criminal case be reduced?

Yes, it is important to have the help of an experienced criminal lawyer to assist with a sentence reduction. An attorney can review your case and sentencing, determine if a reduction may be possible, and present your request in the best possible way to the court. Having professional assistance when requesting a sentence reduction may be ...

What are the phases of criminal justice?

The criminal justice system functions in two phases, the guilt phase , also known as the trial portion, and the sentencing phase, or sentencing portion. If a defendant is convicted of the crime charged in the guilt phase, they will proceed on to the sentencing phase. It is during this phase that the defendant has the opportunity to advocate ...

What is the sentence reduction phase?

Requesting a sentence reduction is properly done during the sentencing phase of the criminal process. The criminal justice system functions in two phases, the guilt phase, also known as the trial portion, and the sentencing phase, or sentencing portion.

What is sentence modification?

In most cases, whether to grant a sentence modification is a decision that lies with the court. Whether a defendant is requesting a compassionate release, a reduction based on sentencing guidelines, or another legal reason, presenting their case in the best possible manner increases their chances of succeeding.

How to get a conviction expunged?

Go to Your Court Hearing: When you have your court hearing, the judge will usually consider both requests at the same hearing—first your request to reduce the conviction to a misdemeanor, and then your request to have it expunged. At the hearing, the judge will consider the following: . The nature of the offense;

Can a felony be reduced to a misdemeanor?

If the judge does NOT reduce your felony conviction to a misdemeanor , or if your felony is eligible for reduction but not expungement, you may need to file a separate petition to get it reduced. Your petition will need to show the judge that your felony conviction meets all the requirements to be reduced to a misdemeanor ...

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