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Cars, clothes, perhaps a house are all on people’s minds as the “essentials” necessary for living, but a criminal attorney rarely on the list. But why? One does not have to be a hardened criminal or nefarious individual to see the merits of being legally prepared.

You also don’t have to commit a felony in order to have the law unnecessarily constrict their life and freedoms. Even a misdemeanor can put a damper on someone’s prospects at receiving employment offers, getting licenses renewed, or being able to rent property. It is, therefore, prudent to consult a criminal attorney anytime you have a black mark on your legal history. While misdemeanor classifications vary by state, there are some commonalities to the classifications.

While a misdemeanor is not the end of the world, you’ll want to have savings and some time on your hand to deal with them. At best, they are negative nuisances that you want to proactively avoid with the help of a quality criminal defense attorney.

The Types of Misdemeanors

In terms of the law, misdemeanors are crimes that are less serious than felonies, both in their commission and their punishment. In most states, the punishment for a misdemeanor is up to a year or less in the county jail, as opposed to the punishment for felonies, which can involve state prison. Both misdemeanor and felony convictions may also involve fines and other punishments. This usually involves having a competent criminal attorney who can either arrange for community service, a suspended sentence, or some other form of compensation to society.

In general, there are four types of misdemeanors in American law: A, B, C, and unclassified. Some states use numbers instead of letters, and a small number of states have additional classifications (such as 4 or D), but generally, these four classifications are the mainstay of misdemeanors.

It Never Hurts to Have a Good Lawyer

A common misdemeanor that people are arrested for is intoxicated driving, also known as a DUI. In fact, 1.5 million people are arrested any given year for drunk driving. You will definitely want a criminal attorney to help defend your rights in this case.

Perhaps your attorney is so specialized that they identify as a “DUI lawyer” and only pursue cases related to intoxicated drivers and other relevant situations. It can help to have a lawyer that is highly specialized so that they can focus on the areas that need trouble and ignore anything that doesn’t.

Whether you’ve been wrongly accused of a crime, arrested for a DUI, or are simply in the wrong place at the wrong time, it never hurts to have a good criminal defense lawyer. There may be some situations in which little can be done and there are consequences to be paid, but even in those most dire moments, you will want adequate legal representation. If you’re caught between a rock and a hard place, don’t hesitate to reach out to the professionals at the Ooten Law Firm.