Defending Your Rights: Criminal Defense
A criminal conviction can change the course of your life. When you are convicted of a crime, it goes on your permanent legal record and shows up in background checks. This conviction may prevent you from working for certain companies, or in certain fields of employment, keep you from getting accepted into college, and disqualify you from some licensures and organizations. Keeping a conviction off your record starts from the moment of arrest. When you have been accused of a crime, whether you have committed that crime or not, you need an attorney experienced in handling criminal cases and defending clients in the criminal court system.
Idaho Criminal Misdemeanor and Felony Penalties
As in most states, the penalties for criminal offenses in Idaho vary substantially, depending upon the nature of the crime, whether it was a misdemeanor or felony, and whether anyone was injured during commission of the crime. Misdemeanors carry lower penalties; a person charged with a misdemeanor may get off with just probation. Felonies carry more severe penalties; though they vary greatly, any felony crime may result in prison time and a substantial fine. Regardless of the penalty incurred, a misdemeanor or felony charge still goes on your record, though, meaning it will still affect your life.
The Importance of Criminal Representation
When you are charged with a crime, the earlier you involve an attorney in the process, the better your chance of getting acquitted of the charges or getting a more lenient sentence. The presence of an attorney early in your arrest ensures your rights are upheld at every point in the process, and that your defense attorney has ample time to review the evidence, talk to witnesses, and get all the details surrounding your arrest, which gives them a better start when going into negotiations or a trial.
Boise Criminal Defense Attorney
Jack Van Valkenburgh is a former prosecutor who provides criminal defense in Boise and the rest of Southwest Idaho. Mr. Van Valkenburgh has years of experience on both sides of criminal defense, and has successfully defended many clients in the court of law. When you have been arrested for a crime, you need representation regardless of your guilt or innocence. Jack Van Valkenburgh will put his criminal defense experience to work to help you get the best possible outcome for your criminal case.
– Analisa L., Boise"When my son was charged with felony arson, Mr. Van Valkenburgh got the charge reduced to misdemeanor “unlawful entry”. But it still wasn’t over, because the prosecutor said the “victim” wanted restitution that would have cost us thousands of dollars! Van Valkenburgh researched the true “value” of the property. The “victim” was actually a scoundrel, and ultimately we paid nothing!"