A felony charge in Tulsa is a serious matter. In addition to a prison sentence and stiff monetary consequences, a person charged with a felony in Tulsa risks the loss of certain civil rights, including the right to use, own or possess a firearm; the right to sit on a jury; and the right to vote.
Furthermore, if convicted of a felony, a person will face severe employment consequences. Also, he or she will likely be unable to obtain professional licenses or qualify for any position that involves the handling of money.
The primary felony defense strategy in Tulsa is to establish your innocence or cast doubt on the evidence against you.
Remember, it is the prosecution’s job to convince the jury of your guilt beyond reasonable doubt. If the prosecutor fails to do this in the eyes of the judge or jury, you may be found not guilty.
However, if you cannot sufficiently establish your innocence or cast doubt on the state’s case against you, there are still a number of other felony defense strategies that may be employed to defend a felony charge in Tulsa.
Reduced Charges
One felony defense strategy a skilled criminal defense attorney may utilize is to persuade the state attorney’s office to reduce the charges against you. Just because you have been charged with a particular offense doesn’t mean that the state has to proceed on those charges.
If your attorney intervenes early with the state, there may be a possibility, depending on the facts and circumstances of your case, that the felony charge can be reduced to something less severe. There may even be a chance to convince the state’s attorney to drop the charges against you altogether.
Deferred Sentence, Suspended Sentences, and Downward Departures
You may also defend a felony charge by seeking a deferred sentence. With a deferred sentence, defendants who are eligible may agree to plead guilty to the charges against them in exchange for the possibility of a dismissal later, pending the completion of certain rehabilitation programs or specific requirements.
If you successfully meet the terms of your deferred sentence, the charges will be dismissed and you will have avoided a felony conviction. If you do not comply with the terms of your deferred sentence, you will be required to serve out the rest of your sentence behind bars.
If you cannot qualify for a deferred sentence, you may still be eligible for a suspended sentence. Even though you have pleaded and been found guilty, the judge agrees to postpone your sentence pending your compliance with certain conditions. If you fully comply with the conditions set forth by the judge, you will not have to serve time behind bars even though you have been convicted.
If all else fails, you may also be eligible for a downward departure. A downward departure occurs when, based on certain legal principles or mitigating factors, your attorney convinces the judge to sentence you to a lower minimum sentence than that which is required by the law.
Consult a knowledgeable criminal defense attorney to discuss these felony defense strategies available to you.
Expungement
Finally, if you have successfully completed the terms of a suspended or deferred sentence or have had your charges reduced to a misdemeanor or dropped entirely, you may later be able to expunge your prior criminal history. An expungement allows you to avoid further social condemnation that results from a felony conviction, and it allays any risk to future employment, professional, or educational opportunities.
Initial Strategy Session: Tulsa Criminal Defense Attorney
The Tulsa attorneys at Seventh Street Law Firm are proud to offer our clients the very best in criminal defense representation at reasonable rates.
For a low-cost consultation in matters requiring criminal defense in Tulsa, call Seventh Street Law Firm today at 918-932-2777.
If you prefer e-mail correspondence, please send your question or inquiry using the form at the right side of this page.
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