| It's a devastating blow when you or a loved | | | | are arrested while on probation or if you |
| one has been convicted of a crime, whether a | | | | have violated your probation after conviction |
| misdemeanor or a felony. If you live in | | | | and a suspended sentence. An experienced |
| Indiana - whether in South Bend, Crown Point, | | | | lawyer can present your case in the best |
| Indianapolis, Valparaiso, or another city or | | | | possible light in order to avoid the harshest |
| town - you should know that a good criminal | | | | penalties. Given that local jurisdictions can |
| defense lawyer can help you in terms of | | | | have tremendous leeway in how probation |
| appeals, probation, and sentence | | | | violations are treated, it's important to |
| modification. | | | | engage a lawyer who has knowledge of the |
| | | | procedures in each Indiana county. This is |
| Appeals | | | | particularly crucial if you have been charged |
| | | | with a new crime while on probation, as a |
| If you are convicted of a crime, an | | | | conviction means that you would have to serve |
| experienced attorney can review the charges | | | | consecutive sentences for the suspended |
| and trial to determine if there is cause for | | | | portion of your original sentence and the |
| appeal. For example, there may have been | | | | sentence for your new conviction. |
| mistakes made in the charges brought against | | | | |
| you, or there may have been improprieties | | | | Sentence Modification |
| during the trial itself. Perhaps there was an | | | | |
| exclusion of exculpatory evidence or | | | | If you've been convicted of a crime, an |
| testimony, or maybe the trial court made a | | | | experienced criminal defense lawyer can often |
| mistake in its decision to join defendants. | | | | successfully file an appeal with the Indiana |
| Perhaps the evidence didn't support a severe | | | | State Court of Appeals in order to obtain a |
| charge and conviction, and you should have | | | | sentence modification, verdict reversal, or |
| been tried on a reduced charge and received a | | | | an order for a new trial. |
| lighter conviction. | | | | |
| | | | Even if you've unsuccessfully appealed your |
| Appeals can also be made and won based on | | | | verdict, you can still try to obtain what's |
| issues surrounding sentencing. Perhaps a | | | | called post-conviction relief. |
| sentence was imposed that was an abuse of the | | | | Post-conviction relief typically involves |
| trial court's discretion, or a prior | | | | arguing that you didn't receive effective |
| conviction was inappropriately used to | | | | legal counsel during your trial, that you |
| justify a harsher sentence. | | | | were coerced into pleading guilty, that new |
| | | | evidence has been discovered, and so forth. |
| A good criminal defense attorney is | | | | When post-conviction relief is successful, |
| especially important if a conviction on a | | | | your lawyer can work to undo |
| misdemeanor charge would mean the revocation | | | | conviction-related damage to your rights and |
| of a professional license. A successful | | | | records. |
| appeal could mean the difference between | | | | |
| maintaining your livelihood and having to | | | | When you've been convicted of a crime, it's |
| start your life over again in a new | | | | difficult to surmount the emotional turmoil |
| profession. | | | | and think clearly about the road ahead. |
| | | | That's why it's crucial that you find a |
| Probation Violations | | | | criminal defense attorney who is experienced |
| | | | in all facets of the appellate process. |
| You can experience severe consequences if you | | | | |