Criminal Defense

Legal Guides

• What to Expect if Sentenced to Jail or Prison

  Written by attorney Mark Sullivan. STAFF PICK

  

  County Jail Sentences. Many defendants who are sentenced to county jail are given the opportunity to do their time on weekends. It's a good opportunity if you have a good job that you're going to... more

• Types of Criminal Sentences

  Written by Avvo Staff. STAFF PICK

  

  For those convicted of a crime, the next immediate step is sentencing. That's where the judge comes in. It's a common thought that the jury often influences sentencing, but this is not the case. The... more

• Factors that Determine a Criminal Sentence

  Written by Avvo Staff. STAFF PICK

  

  There are many factors that determine a convicted criminal's sentence. Severity of crime, past criminal history, circumstances surrounding the crime and adherence to state and local-level guidelines... more

• How Probation Works (Informal vs. Formal)

  Written by attorney Roland Tiemann. STAFF PICK

  

  Informal/Summary Court Probation. If you are placed on Summary/Informal Probation, you don’t report to a Probation Officer instead you are required to complete the specific terms of the sentencing... more

• Probation Violations and Their Consequences

  Written by attorney Michael Ross. STAFF PICK

  

  There are three types of situations that give rise to violations of probation A charge of a new criminal offense, separate from the original case which is now the subject of an alleged violation of... more

• Sentencing Alternatives to Jail/Prison

  Written by attorney Stephen Rodriguez. STAFF PICK

  

  What is Alternative Sentencing? As more and more prisons and local jails suffer from overcrowding, many states have begun considering alternative sentences to incarceration. These alternatives not... more