Criminal charges have the potential to immediately upend your life and put your entire future at risk. Regardless of their innocence, everyone accused of criminal behavior deserves the opportunity to defend themselves, clear their name, and argue for reduced punishment. However, this isn't easy to do alone, and working with a criminal defense attorney is the best way to protect your rights following an arrest.
The LLF Law Firm brings years of experience defending clients in Columbia County and throughout Pennsylvania. Our Criminal Defense Team excels at negotiating with prosecutors and can work from day one to secure the best possible outcome. Call the LLF Law Firm today at 888-535-3686 or reach out through our confidential consultation form.
Crime Classifications in Columbia County
Every county in Pennsylvania prosecutes crimes based on classifications set by Pennsylvania state law. There are three distinct levels of offenses:
- Felonies: The most severe offenses, with the potential for tens of thousands in fines and extended prison sentences. They are categorized into first-degree, second-degree, and third-degree, with first-degree felonies carrying the harshest penalties.
- Misdemeanors: Less severe than felonies, misdemeanors still pose significant risks to anyone facing misdemeanor charges. These are also divided into different degrees to reflect their severity.
- Summary Offenses: These are minor infractions, such as low-level ordinance violations, typically resulting in fines or minimal penalties.
Uniquely, murder charges have their own classification tiers, determined by the intent and circumstances surrounding the crime.
Columbia County Court System
Columbia County has two types of courts, each with its own role in handling criminal cases. Magisterial District Courts handle the initial stages of criminal cases, including preliminary arraignments, preliminary hearings, and all aspects of minor summary offenses and some misdemeanors.
Columbia County's Court of Common Pleas has general jurisdiction over more serious criminal cases, including all felonies, most misdemeanors, and major civil cases. It also handles appeals from the Magisterial District Courts. The contact information for the Court of Common Pleas for Columbia County is:
35 West Main Street
Bloomsburg, PA 17815
570-389-5663
Even if you are entirely innocent, you should not expect the truth to protect you without being proactive in your defense. Criminal defense attorneys with experience in the local court system are invaluable and can assist in beating the criminal charges you face. If your future is at risk due to criminal charges in Columbia County, the LLF Law Firm is ready to help.
Common Criminal Charges in Columbia County
Everyone facing criminal charges in Columbia County deserves to have their rights respected during the criminal justice process, no matter what allegations are tied to their name. Unfortunately, without a criminal defense lawyer to help them, many people waive their rights or divulge details to the police, which may make it harder to beat the charges against them. The LLF Law Firm Criminal Defense Team can partner with and represent you immediately following your arrest for any criminal charge, including:
- Violent Crimes: Due to the often disastrous consequences for victims, convictions for violent crimes result in some of the harshest penalties. Most violent crimes that rise above the level of simple assault are felonies in Pennsylvania.
- Sex Crimes: Sex crimes refer to in-person acts, like sexual assault, or illegal activities of a sexual nature, like possession of child pornography. Even before a conviction, allegations of sexual misconduct can inflict serious damage to the reputation of the accused.
- Drug Charges: Anyone possessing illegal substances in Columbia County is at risk of prison time and steep fines when caught by law enforcement. Charges increase in severity depending on the type of substance, the quantity, and the person's intent.
- DUI: Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs places others at risk, and Columbia County police always keep an eye out for potential rulebreakers on the road. Pennsylvania law allows for DUI charges when someone is under the influence of alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, inhalants, meth, ecstasy, or prescription drugs.
- Traffic Offenses: Most Columbia County residents drive daily, and over time, some may be hit with multiple traffic offenses. While one minor offense doesn't place a license at risk in most cases, repeated violations can lead to restrictions or time in jail.
- Expungements of Criminal Record: Regardless of what criminal offenses you were convicted of in the past, you deserve to start fresh. Clearing your criminal record can open up new opportunities and remove the stigma of past offenses as you build a new life.
Even if you are dealing with criminal charges not listed here, we are ready and able to help. The LLF Law Firm is active in Columbia County and can assist whenever criminal charges threaten your future.
Criminal Judicial Process in Columbia County
Most people have a general understanding of the criminal justice process, but they don't fully grasp how complex and difficult it is in reality. An arrest may be years away from a criminal trial, and defense attorneys can protect their clients from common issues during every part of the process.
Arrest
The criminal judicial process in Pennsylvania begins with an arrest based on evidence gathered by law enforcement. Immediately following your arrest, anything you say can put you at greater risk. Never try to defend yourself or answer questions at this early stage without an attorney representing you.
Charges and Preliminary Hearings
A local magisterial district court will hold a preliminary arraignment to formally present charges and determine the conditions of your bail. If you still have not secured representation, the court will likely once again inform you of your legal rights to an attorney. Defense attorneys play an important role from the outset, long before you end up at trial.
After your arraignment, you will attend your scheduled preliminary hearing, where the prosecution must demonstrate sufficient evidence to proceed with the case. They do not need to prove guilt at this stage, but they must show some amount of evidence to convince a judge to proceed with the case. If the judge finds the evidence lacking, the charges may be dismissed.
Pre-Trial
If your case is not dismissed, this leads to a formal arraignment and scheduling of your court trial. During the upcoming pre-trial phase, your attorney will be hard at work challenging the admissibility of evidence, seeking to dismiss charges, or negotiating plea deals. Pre-trial motions shape the course of the trial, and ideally, attorneys can reach an agreement with prosecutors that doesn't jeopardize your future in court.
Trial
If it is in your best interest to reject plea deals and go to trial, the LLF Law Firm Criminal Defense Team will meticulously prepare and develop a strong defense strategy. Trials are highly complex, and you should feel confident in the experience of your defense attorneys before stepping foot in court. The quality of your defense will often make a massive difference in the trial's result, and you should never leave anything to chance.
Sentencing and Appeals
If convicted or if you enter a guilty plea by choice, you will face sentencing by a judge. Judges base their sentences on the crime's classification, sentencing requirements, severity, and mitigating circumstances. The job of defense attorneys after a trial is to argue for lenient sentencing and persuade the sentencing judge to consider your unique situation.
If there were errors or injustices during the trial, pursuing an appeal to seek a reversal or reduction of the sentence may be the next step. Rest assured, the LLF Law Firm Criminal Defense Team will keep you informed of any developments in your case and fully explain when and why appeals are in your best interest.
Experienced Criminal Defense Attorneys in Columbia County
Criminal charges have the potential to change your life far more than nearly anything else in society. Even minor offenses that do not carry risks of time in prison can complicate your life due to the existence of a criminal record. With so much at risk, you should never try to defend against criminal charges without first seeking legal representation from skilled criminal defense attorneys.
The LLF Law Firm works throughout the state, including in Columbia County, to protect the rights of those accused of crimes. If you are facing criminal charges, we want to help. Call our Criminal Defense Team today at 888-535-3686 or contact us through our website to begin working on your defense.
