A criminal charge can be a challenging and stressful experience for anyone. Quality of life worsens in the short-term with uncertainty and worry, and in the long-term can be severely impacted by the potential consequences of a conviction.
At Nelson Jones, our criminal defense attorneys understand the weight of the situation for you or your loved one. That’s why we put forth our best efforts in handling your criminal case, adding the least amount of stress to you while moving forward with the most aggressive legal defense possible.
An accusation of a crime is more than trouble with the law; there are burdens one may have to bear simply for being charged or convicted.
The attorneys at Nelson Jones don’t take this lightly. When we take on your case we’re not only committing ourselves to your legal defense. We’re also working toward minimizing the impact of collateral consequences on your life.
A collateral consequence is any lasting result of a criminal case that is not the charge or conviction itself. These can be legally mandated or occur as a natural result of having criminal status, and in any case are disruptive to one’s lifestyle and means of income.
Examples of collateral consequences are:
An especially negative collateral consequence is a criminal record being attached to your name. This is a public record of conviction by a Utah court for committing a crime, visible to anyone who would perform a background check.
There are a number of ways having a criminal record can complicate someone’s life, such as:
As criminal defense lawyers, our top priority is preventing criminal records from being established. They can also be expunged given certain conditions, like a waiting period for specific crimes and those mentioned in Utah’s “Clean Slate” law. We will persistently explore every avenue to prevent or eliminate a criminal record if and when possible.
We invest our time and energy into challenging criminal charges before turning into convictions, undermining any claims made against you and arguing for a case dismissal.
Even if a conviction is certain, we can leverage our expertise as criminal defense lawyers to negotiate with prosecutors. We can reduce charges and the severity of punishment. We can also note issues with legal proceedings and use them to write up an appeal of the conviction.
Yes, attorneys can make a case with the court for dropping criminal charges, provided the prosecutor has insufficient evidence, there are legal problems with the charge, or they can negotiate a plea bargain.
Yes, even criminal charges without a conviction and can appear on a background check in the state of Utah.
A criminal record in Utah is considered indefinite until it is expunged, which often involves negotiation with the court such as a plea bargain or an appeal. A record can be cleared when meeting certain conditions under the Clean Slate law or depending on the specific crime and level of offense.
You can make a request through the Utah Department of Public Safety's BCI website, visiting the BCL office in person or by mail.
In most cases a GRAMA request would have to be submitted, with a valid photo ID and fee, at the police department or agency most relevant to your charge. Depending on your location, an online service for sending a GRAMA request may be available with some limitations.
A 'Notice of Appeal' must to be submitted within 30 days of the court's final judgment of a case.
The Notice of Appeal must detail who is filing the appeal and for which court's order. After that, an attorney will need to make the case to the appellate court that the trial in question was conducted in error.
It's possible, if in the legal proceedings of the civil case it is argued that a crime was committed. The civil and criminal cases would be tried separately.
Yes, a DUI would be considered a misdemeanor or felony charge, and a conviction would appear on a criminal record.
No, traffic tickets are given for infractions, which are not considered criminal charges. Serious traffic violations, like DUIs, reckless driving, etc. are grounds for a criminal charge.
If you or a loved one face criminal charges and need help, Nelson Jones is here to for you. Our team of experienced criminal defense attorneys are ready to support and defend you through this difficult time. Call us by phone or submit a form to learn more about how we can protect your rights and safeguard your future.
"*" indicates required fields
We recognize that no two personal injury cases are the same, with a different impact and set of circumstances every time. That's why our attorneys craft a personalized plan for each of our clients.
We will aggressively pursue fair compensation for you, meaning we're not afraid to go to court if necessary. Our attorneys are seasoned litigators who will fight to protect your rights and secure the best possible outcome.
We make the legal process of resolving your personal injury case as stress-free as possible. You'll get one-on-one contact with an attorney as your guide, answering your questions and keeping you informed as needed.
As a part of the Utah community, we are committed not just to our clients but to the betterment of our community as a whole. We take pride in our ethical approach to law and our role in ensuring justice is accessible to everyone.
"*" indicates required fields
