Suffolk County Felony

Have you recently been accused of a felony? These are charges that should be evaluated seriously. While misdemeanor charges should also lead you to contact an experienced attorney, a Suffolk County felony defense attorney should be retained immediately if the police are indicating that they intend to charge you with felony charges. A felony conviction could lead to a criminal record and enhanced sentencing that could have ripple effects throughout your life. In addition to fines, probation and imprisonment, automatic loss of a number of rights are associated immediately with a felony conviction. These include:

• You are prohibited from purchasing firearms.
• You are ineligible for welfare benefits.
• You cannot receive federally subsidized housing.
• You are no longer able to vote.
• You cannot participate as a juror.
• Certain operator and professional licenses are revoked.

A Suffolk County felony defense lawyer should be retained immediately to explain the potential penalties of your case. And of course, since felony charges are quite serious, they can lead to significant consequences.

New York defines felonies as those offenses that lead to a term of imprisonment longer than one year could be imposed. Jail sentences for violations, infractions and misdemeanors are reduced, however, a number of different convictions can lengthen jail time and drug felonies maintain their unique sentencing guidelines that should prompt you to hire a Suffolk County drug possession defense attorney immediately.

These felony charges are well worth exploring all of your options early on. The evaluation of evidence and the preparation of a competent defense should be prepared by a Suffolk County felony defender immediately.

A criminal defense attorney serves many different roles in your case and all of these should involve prompt and effective action. Some of the things a felony defense attorney in Suffolk County will do are work to reduce the plea to a lower charge, dismiss charges, to reduce it to a misdemeanor and handle a broad range of conviction related challenges. If you are ultimately convicted of a felony, your attorney may work to minimize or avoid imprisonment or fines. There is no guaranteed result no matter what any felony defense lawyer in Suffolk County tells you, however, your freedom and your life are on the line.

So it is imperative that you hire a criminal defense attorney you can trust. There are five separate categories of felonies in New York, each one carries a max sentence and multiple convictions could be required consecutively or concurrently. Felony convictions have specific sentencing guidelines although judges do have some discretion. The maximum sentences for felony charges in Suffolk County include:

• Class A violent: life without parole.
• Class B violent: 25
• Class B non-violent: 25
• Class C violent: 15
• Class C non-violent: 15
• Class D violent felony: 7
• Class D non-violent: 7
• Class E violent: 4 years
• Class E non-violent: 4 years

It is possible to face multiple felony charges at the same time and the prosecutors may be pursuing this route in an effort to achieve a conviction on at least one of those charges. Multiple convictions may impact your current sentencing guidelines and there are numerous different factors that ultimately affect the outcome of a felony case.

Trying to handle your own case is a big mistake. The DA and the police are not going to tell you everything that is available to you when you’re negotiating lower charges. They may try to avoid giving you too much information so that you increase your chances of making mistakes and ending up in jail. A lawyer can tell you what to really expect and the true options available to you.

But you need a criminal defense attorney who can explain all of the options available to you and help you navigate this complicated situation with knowledge and comfort in your future. No one wants to find themselves facing felony charges but it is important to realize that your ability to handle next steps and consult with an attorney immediately may impact your chances of avoiding serious criminal consequences. Don't let a felony record and its lifetime implications happen to you without engaging the services of a lawyer.