Criminal Law Information

Individuals arrested for violating a criminal law whether through their own admission of guilt or through the determination of a jury are subject to fines, imprisonment, and probation and community service, among other penalties. The outcome of any criminal case depends upon the facts surrounding the crime charged, the strength of the evidence, the legal validity of law enforcement and courtroom procedure, and the goals and strategy of the government and defense. Las Vegas criminal defense Attorney Martin Hart will navigate you through this complicated legal process.

After your arrest, booking and initial bail phases of the criminal process, the first stage of courtroom-based proceedings is the arraignment. During a typical arraignment, a person charged with a crime is called before a criminal court judge, who reads the criminal charges against the defendant, assigns a court-appointed attorney if the defendant cannot financially afford their own defense, asks the defendant how he or she pleads, i.e. guilty, not guilty, etc., alters the bail amount or releases the defendant on his or her own recognizance and announces dates of future proceedings in the case, such as the preliminary hearing, pre-trial motions and trial date.

"DUI” stands for Driving under the Influence and occurs when someone is operating, or is in actual physical control, of a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or other controlled substance, to the extent that their mental faculties are impaired and/or their Blood Alcohol Content is above the legal limit. Even for a first offense, penalties can include license suspension, substantial fines, community service, mandatory attendance at a state or DMV approved alcohol program, mandatory overnight incarceration and the required installation (at the offender’s expense) of a car ignition locking device are typical ways courts punish DUI offenders. If you have three DUI convictions within seven years, your driver’s license will be automatically revoked for 3 years with a felony conviction that does not allow probation.

However, if someone was injured as a result of the drunken driving accident, it is possible the defendant will be charged with a felony (and if the victim dies, the driver may be charged with vehicular manslaughter). For more information, please contact Las Vegas DUI Attorney Martin W. Hart.

Traffic violations are specifically addressed in state statutes and can include: driving with a suspended license, driving without insurance, leaving the scene of an accident, DMV hearings and appeals. There is an entire body of law that regulates the operation of motor vehicles on the streets and highways. The laws related to operating a vehicle can be difficult to interpret and apply. It is important to contact an experienced traffic/DUI defense lawyer if you have been charged with any traffic violations.

Domestic violence is any physical, emotional, sexual or other violence that takes place between people who may be married or not married; heterosexual, gay, or lesbian; living together, separated or dating. Domestic violence can be criminal and include physical assault: hitting, pushing and shoving, etc., sexual abuse: unwanted or forced sexual activity, and stalking. For more information, please contact Las Vegas domestic violence Attorney Martin W. Hart.

Felony Crimes involve drug and narcotics charges, burglary, robbery, murder, sexual assault, arson, kidnapping and battery. A felony conviction is a serious matter that can result in a substantial state prison sentence and the potential loss of certain privileges and Constitutional rights of U.S. citizenship, such as the right to possess a firearm or the right to vote.

If you or someone you know in Las Vegas, Nevada that needs the legal counsel or assistance of an experienced criminal defense lawyer, please contact Attorney Martin Hart, today at 866-305-2747, or complete the contact form provided on this site to begin your consultation with a skillful Las Vegas criminal defense trial attorney.