PJ Campanaro DUI Defense Lawyer in Augusta GA

PJ Campanaro is a DUI Defense Lawyer in Augusta GA

Common criminal law terms - FAQs

The arraignment is your first court appearance after arrest. During arraignment, the judge reads the charges filed against you in the complaint and you can choose to plead "guilty," "not guilty" or "no contest" to those charges. The judge will also determine your bail and set dates for future hearings.

A preliminary hearing, or preliminary examination, is an adversarial proceeding in which attorneys questions witnesses and both parties make arguments. The judge then decides the ultimate finding of probable cause. In a grand jury, the jury hears only from the prosecutor. The grand jury can call their own witnesses and ask for further investigations be performed. The grand jury then decides whether sufficient proof has been presented to indict the defendant.

A guilty verdict or a plea bargain results in a conviction and a criminal record is established. The creation of a criminal record carries with it far-reaching affects. A conviction can carry a wealth of hidden consequences that can become effective under a variety of circumstances. A criminal conviction can have major repercussions. It can impact the individual on a more basic level when he attempts to seek employment. Federal law and most state agencies now requires background verifications and allow disqualification based on conviction in a wide variety of employment areas including education, healthcare services, child and eldercare, financial institutions and transportation. A previous will play an important role in the result of all future criminal charges.


Augusta GA DUI Lawyer | Georgia Criminal Defense Attorney