Felony and Misdemeanor Charges in Bucks County

If you or someone you know is facing criminal charges in Pennsylvannia, the following is what you should expect regarding each type of charge. For more specific information, call and schedule a consultation with a Bucks County criminal lawyer today.

What To Expect From Misdemeanor Charges

In Bucks County if a person is charged with a misdemeanor the person should expect that their records will be released on the day of their arrest and given a summons by mail to appear before the magisterial district court for what is otherwise known as a preliminary hearing.

Once the misdemeanor charges are filed the individual will receive notice within three weeks and a court date will be set for the initial appearance of the attorney and for the initial amount of evidence to be presented by the commonwealth against an accused. At this stage otherwise called the preliminary hearing many options may be discussed which will directly affect the future of the individual’s case. Therefore it is essential to have an experienced Buck’s County criminal defense attorney at your side for a preliminary hearing.

Importance of a Preliminary Hearing

Whether the charges are misdemeanors or felonies it is crucial so that the right judgments and right decisions be made at the preliminary hearing so as not to limit the individual’s defenses at a later trial in Doylestown, Pennsylvania or at a later alternative disposition such as the ARD program. Without the right options being put forward at the preliminary hearing stage even for misdemeanors an individual may waive their right opportunity to have their records expunged after a diversionary period is completed and a program has been offered. As a result it is crucial to have the right lawyer with you at all times so that all of your rights and all of your possibilities in resolving your matter can be put forward and choosing the right path is 90% of the battle.

What To Expect From Felony Charges

In Bucks County an individual facing a felony charge faces a number of obstacles that are different from the steps than an individual facing only a misdemeanor charge may have. For instance if a person is charged with a serious felony they are taken into custody and may be held at the Bucks County correctional facility prior even to a bail hearing.

It is at this time when the felony charges are filed that an individual needs to seek the assistance of an experienced Bucks County criminal defense attorney. The sooner an experienced Bucks County criminal defense attorney gets involved the better the results and the more likely an individual will not be held in custody handling a preliminary hearing and or a trial.

Severity of Felony Charges

Felonies can be very serious implications such as bail, detainers and or stay away orders are affected by the felony charges being filed against an individual. Therefore the consequences may lead to a person being held on a high bail, having to seek the services of a bail bondsman in order to get out and the individual having to deal with a district court judge who for all intents and purposes has the government’s position at the heart of any decision that person may make.