Alabama law sets out harsh penalties for criminal offenses. Each conviction comes with its own potential penalties, depending on the severity of the offense and other mitigating or aggravating factors. But all criminal penalties can affect your life, so it is critical to have the right Millbrook defense attorney on your side if you face any charges.
Some criminal penalties are below. Seek help from a criminal defense lawyer who can help to eliminate or minimize the penalties you face.
Fines
Most criminal sentences will involve fines. The court orders the defendant to pay a certain amount, which is intended to be both a punishment and a deterrent against future criminal activity. Possible fines in Alabama include:
- Class C misdemeanor = Up to $500
- Class B misdemeanor = Up to $3,000
- Class A misdemeanor = Up to $6,000
- Class D felony = Up to $7,500
- Class C felony = Up to $15,000
- Class B felony = Up to 30,000
- Class A felony = Up to $60,000
Imprisonment
The law allows for jail or prison sentences for any misdemeanor or felony offense. The following are the maximum imprisonment sentences for different levels of charges:
- Class C misdemeanor = Up to three months
- Class B misdemeanor = Up to six months
- Class A misdemeanor = Up to one year
- Class D felony = One to five years
- Class C felony = One to ten years
- Class B felony = Two to 20 years
- Class A felony = Ten to 99 years or life in prison
Probation
In many cases, the right lawyer can help you get a probation sentence instead of imprisonment. While probation is certainly preferable to being behind bars, it also can involve many strict requirements, such as keeping a job or school schedule, meeting with a case manager, undergoing drug testing or counseling, paying fees, and much more. Your defense attorney should always look into the possibility of probation if you are convicted or plead guilty to an offense.
Other Consequences
Many people fail to recognize that a criminal conviction can result in serious consequences that have nothing to do with a court’s sentence. Called collateral consequences, these non-judicial consequences can be worse than any sentence imposed by the court and can arise years after you have completed that sentence.
Some examples of collateral consequences that you may face after a conviction include:
- Problems getting a job
- Being rejected for an apartment
- Damage to your reputation in your community
- An inability to get into a college or university
- Problems getting a professional license
A Criminal Defense Lawyer in Millbrook Can Help
If you have been accused of a crime in Alabama, you should speak to a lawyer as soon as possible. Trying to handle a criminal matter by yourself can result in facing serious consequences that can affect you for the rest of your life. At Luck Law LLC, we are dedicated to protecting the rights of people like you and will work hard to resolve your case as favorably as possible. Contact us today to speak with a Millbrook criminal defense attorney.
