Criminal Defense
For most people, being arrested is a frightening and traumatic experience. Being forced into an unfamiliar setting and at the mercy of the authorities, you may not know what to do or say or how to act in your best interests. With so much at stake, you cannot afford to make a mistake. Luckily, there is only one thing you have to remember when you are arrested, and that is to contact an experienced criminal defense attorney to represent you. Jerome Carter is a former Mobile County Assistant District Attorney with a firsthand knowledge of how cases are prosecuted, and he is an experienced criminal defense attorney as well. The attorneys at the Carter Law Firm can defend you against any misdemeanor or felony charges in Alabama state or federal court, including all of the following and more:
- Assault and violent crime
- Theft and property offenses
- Drug charges
- White collar crime
- DUI
- Traffic offenses
- Sex offenses
- Domestic violence
- Juvenile offenses
Help is Available with Your Criminal Charges
A criminal conviction can cost you in terms of expensive fines and jail time. In addition, a criminal record can hurt you in a variety of areas such as employment, an occupational or professional license, educational opportunities, obtaining a loan, your driver’s license and many rights and privileges of citizenship. However, help is available. As a person charged with a crime, you have constitutional rights to protect you from unfair treatment, and unless the prosecution can prove every element of the crime charged against you, you have the right to go free. In addition, you may have any number of defenses available to fight the charges against you.
At the Carter Law Firm, we look at every aspect of your case and the details surrounding the procedures of your arrest and the evidence against you. Our experienced defense lawyers fight hard to get the charges dismissed or reduced, obtain a favorable disposition such as probation, or provide strong, effective defense in court for a not guilty verdict or judgment of acquittal. We are on your side every step of the way, advising you of your rights and options, and letting you know what you can expect from the criminal legal process.
Juvenile Offenses
Minors and young adults charged with juvenile offenses may be handled through the juvenile justice system rather than adult criminal court. In the juvenile system, the focus is on rehabilitation instead of punishment. However, for children 14 years old or older, the court has discretion to transfer the case to the criminal court, and for youths aged 16 years old or older charged with certain felonies, drug offenses or capital crimes, transfer to criminal court is mandatory. The criminal court does not have the authority to transfer a case back to juvenile court, and once a minor is tried in adult court, any future offenses will be heard there as well.
The attorneys at the Carter Law Firm are particularly concerned with the welfare of children and have years of experience working with kids. We work hard to keep the case in the juvenile system or find diversion programs that avoid any contact with the system at all. We also work to minimize the consequences of an adjudication or conviction by exploring all available avenues for sealing or expunging court records as appropriate. We represent minors charged with all manner of juvenile or criminal offenses, including:
- Shoplifting
- Joyriding
- Vandalism
- Possession of alcohol
- Assault/sexual assault
Before You Talk to the Police, Talk to the Carter Law Firm
You probably know that if you are arrested, you have the right to remain silent and request an attorney. Exercising these rights are the most important things you can do protect yourself and preserve your chances for the best possible outcome in your case. Police are expertly trained in getting you to make statements they can use against you. We are trained to look out for you and provide you the best defense available. For immediate assistance in Mobile and Baldwin counties and surrounding areas, call the Carter Law Firm anytime, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at 251-433-6500.
