Law & Society

If you were charged with a federal crime, would you know what to do or what to expect? There are quite a few legal steps that are taken and these are there so that you are not taken advantage of and that rights remain protected. Read this article to discover the procedure taken, when you have been accused of a federal crime.

Examples of federal crimes include Tax Evasion, Bank Fraud, Bribery, Computer and Hacking, Counterfeiting, Credit Card Fraud, Currency Schemes, Embezzlements and Extortion.

You may also be charged on Medicare Fraud or healthcare crimes, Major Thefts, Cyber and Crimes Against Children. Before you are charged on any of these crimes, however, you will be served with an arrest warrant.

After adjudication and evaluation of evidence, and or testimony against someone, a judge may issue a warrant of arrest against him. If you are the one being charged, the police authority will use its resources in locating you and arresting you.
Once arrested, you will be read the Miranda rights, before you are sent and �booked� at the police department. At the police department, you will be fingerprinted, photographed, moved through other procedures, and placed behind bars. You will stay there until a court hearing is made.

At this stage, you should have an attorney who will represent you at court or on any legal proceedings to protect your rights. Being charged with Federal crimes should be taken seriously, because they can cost your liberty once proven guilty.
Once you are in the custody of the police, you will be allowed to contact an attorney. In fact, it is your right to have a legal representation of your choice. Choosing a lawyer to defend your rights and to handle your case is very crucial. It can make a difference on the outcome of the charges made against you.
Your attorney will take the necessary actions. The court hearing usually takes place within 48 hours from the time of your arrest. If you have a lawyer, you can ask him to make the necessary actions in order to post bail at the court for your temporary freedom.

Before the trial, there will be an arraignment. It is the phase of legal procedure in which you enter a plea of the case. There are two pleas to submit to the Judge who will hear your case: guilty or not guilty.

Even if you are guilty, you can still enter a not guilty plea, if you believe that the evidence accumulated against you is insufficient to prove your guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
A plea of not guilty will lead to a trial in a court. During the legal proceeding, both the prosecutor and the defendants attorney will do their best to carry out their task- prosecutor proving your guilt and the defendants attorney proving your innocence.

After the legal proceeding, the Jury will have to decide your guilt, after the prosecutor and the defendants attorney have presented their evidence. If the Jury finds you guilty of the Federal crimes charged against you, the Judge will sentence you to imprisonment and issue other forms of punishment such as fines.

If you have been absolved of your accused crime, you walk out of the legal court as a free man, and you can take back the amount of bail you posted earlier. It is important, that you choose a lawyer who is adept at the crimes you have been charged with. He or she should be knowledgeable and experienced in handling federal crimes.