Criminal charges have the potential to change your entire life. If you are convicted, you may face short-term consequences like fines and jail time, as well as long-term consequences like a permanent criminal record. Hiring an experienced Louisiana criminal defense lawyer is the most effective way to avoid or mitigate the severity of criminal penalties. You deserve effective and skilled criminal defense in the face of both minor and severe criminal charges.
We fight aggressively to protect your rights and future.
The justice system in the country states that the accused are innocent until proven guilty. This is a basic right. Unfortunately, many parties inside and outside of the criminal justice system are set on a defendant’s guilt before a fair trial. When you are accused of a crime, you need a strong attorney to combat these presumptions and protect your interests while building an effective defense.
After you have been arrested or charged with a crime, it is important that you find an attorney as soon as possible. Longman Jakuback is a skilled criminal defense law firm focused on defending those accused of crimes and fighting for the rights of those who have been wrongfully convicted. We are passionate about supporting the rights of our clients and building a defense tailored to each unique case.
If you wait too long to work with a skilled attorney, you may find yourself facing the state’s prosecution team without talented representation. This is not only overwhelming but likely to end badly. Even a minor charge can result in complex and serious consequences. The effects of a criminal conviction can follow you for the rest of your life. At Longman Jakuback, we help you avoid this while providing you with the resources and support you need against the prosecution.
When you select a defense attorney, they should have experience relevant to the type and severity of the charges you face. They should also have experience in the courts that your case will be handled in. By finding a Louisiana Criminal Defense Lawyer with this experience, your case is more likely to be resolved efficiently and have a stronger defense.
At Longman Jakuback, our attorneys can help those facing many types of criminal charges. Some of these include:
Drug offenses refer to a wide range of charges, with the severity of a crime depending on the type and amount of drug involved. Possession of some small amounts of certain drugs may be charged as a misdemeanor, but most drug crimes can be charged as felonies. These include possession of dangerous controlled substances, large amounts of substances, and trafficking, manufacturing, or distributing substances.
Depending on the circumstances of the crime or arrest, a drug crime may be charged as a federal offense.
Being arrested or charged with a drug crime is not the same as a conviction. An attorney can help you find the strongest defense for your unique situation. If there is a question about the ways the evidence was collected or if your civil rights were violated, this can be used in your defense. An attorney can help use this and other evidence to limit or eliminate the charges against you.
Drug crimes are harshly prosecuted, and the charges may be false allegations. It is important to find legal counsel, whether you did or did not commit the drug crime. Without an attorney, you may face significantly higher penalties than are fair. At Longman Jakuback, we believe in holding law enforcement officers accountable for their actions and preventing unfair prosecutions.
Being arrested for driving while intoxicated (DWI) does not mean you will be automatically convicted. There are several options to reduce the charges against you, defend your license, and even have the charges dismissed. If you are convicted of a DWI, it could result in time in jail or prison, fines that can range in size, and probation after release. You could lose your license and your car.
It is crucial to have a skilled DWI attorney by your side to determine your defense options, help you through the administrative and criminal hearing processes, and ensure your rights were respected during the pull-over and arrest. Working with an attorney improves the chances of avoiding a DWI conviction.
A grand jury is called to decide whether there is enough evidence against a potential defendant to begin a trial, charging them with that crime. This is different from a petit jury, which determines the guilt of a defendant based on the information presented by the defense and prosecution. The grand jury does not make a statement on the guilt or innocence of the defendant; it only looks at the significance of the evidence after an arrest. Grand juries are typically necessary for serious felony cases.
Internet crimes cover a range of types of crimes committed online, such as fraud, theft, sex crimes, hacking, and even drug crimes. The laws managing online crimes are ever-evolving and complicated, and it is essential that your attorney understands these state and federal laws.
Abortion is criminalized in Louisiana, negating the reproductive and personal rights of many individuals. Specifically, aiding or causing the termination of a pregnancy is criminalized. This means physicians, those who provide drugs to end a pregnancy, and sometimes anyone remotely involved in helping someone get an abortion could be charged. At Longman Jakuback, we understand how serious these anti-abortion laws are and are here to help those charged with these offenses.
Sex crimes are especially stigmatized, and they can harm an accused person’s social and professional reputation, even if they are not convicted. A strong defense is necessary to attempt to avoid this and to build the most effective defense in court. Conviction of a sex crime often results in required sex offender registration, which has significant requirements and limitations.
Violent crimes are severely and heavily prosecuted in Louisiana. These include crimes such as domestic violence, assault, crimes committed with the use of deadly weapons, battery, manslaughter, and murder. It’s crucial to secure strong legal representation.
White collar crimes are financial crimes, including offenses such as embezzlement, money laundering, bribery, extortion, identity theft, internet crimes, and many types of fraud. These crimes may be charged in state or federal court. The penalties that may result from a white collar crime conviction could be very serious. These types of crimes could result in civil cases as well as criminal cases.
The burden of proof in a criminal trial is that there must be guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, and it lies with the prosecution. This means the prosecution must prove beyond a reasonable doubt to the judge or jury that the defendant committed the elements of the crime. If there is not enough evidence to meet the burden of proof, the defendant should not be found guilty. The defendant does not have to meet a burden of proof.
The amount a criminal defense attorney charges is based on many factors. Fees are typically charged per hour of work. Some attorneys may charge a flat fee, although this is less common for criminal defense cases unless it is a very simple defense. The costs of a criminal defense attorney may increase if the case goes to court, takes significant research and resources, and is otherwise complex. Other factors, such as the attorney’s experience, success rate, and unique qualifications, may impact the costs.
After an arrest for a felony in Louisiana, the following timelines apply:
A good criminal defense lawyer focuses on criminal defense law, has good client reviews and testimonials, and has a strong success rate with cases similar to yours. A good attorney also has experience in the courts in which you are being charged and has strong professional relationships with the prosecutors and judges on your case.
When your freedom or your family is on the line, you deserve a team that is as invested in the outcome as you are.
It is also important you feel comfortable with your defense attorney. Being charged with a criminal offense is stressful, and it is important that your attorney can represent your interests and support you.
The attorneys at Longman Jakuback believe in representing your side of the story and providing you with the strong and effective legal support you need. You are facing intimidating, stressful circumstances, but you don’t need to do so alone. We are dedicated to bringing you the representation and advocacy you need. Our team fights for the rights of those accused throughout the state of Louisiana. Contact our team today to see how we can help with your case.
If you or someone you love is facing criminal charges in Louisiana, the team at Longman Jakuback is ready to fight for you. Contact us today for a free and confidential consultation.
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