Criminal Defense and Misdemeanors
Not all criminal charges in Cookeville are the same—and punishments can vary—so it is important that you consult criminal defense law firms in Cookeville that can bring a flexibility, nuance and local knowledge to your defense. At the Cookeville criminal defense law firm of Douglas K. Dennis, we pride ourselves on providing our clients with an individualized service based on a solid relationship of trust. Understanding the complexity of the criminal case against you and being knowledgeable about the local, state and possibly federal laws surrounding your case is the first step to mounting a solid defense.
Misdemeanors vs. Felonies
Even lay people with a passing knowledge of the law know that being charged with a felony is far worse than a misdemeanor. The scale of severity however, can be misleading depending on the charge. While felonies as opposed to misdemeanors generally carry harsher penalties such as longer jail sentences and steeper fines, the crimes may not always seem applicable to their legal designation.
Take, for example, being charged for a first offense DUI in Tennessee; this misdemeanor charge carries the following penalties according to tn.gov:
- License revocation for one year
- You will be ordered to participate in a DUI school
- Pay restitution to any person suffering physical injury or personal loss
- $350-$1,500 fine
- With towing, bail, attorney, high risk insurance, court costs, school, and reinstatement fees, your first offense average costs could add up to $4,900
- Judge can order you to install a vehicle ignition interlock device at your expense. Minimum first-year cost $810.
- Drug and alcohol treatment may be required at the discretion of the judge
On the other hand, white-collar crimes that are usually non-violent can carry jail terms lasting several years because these crimes are felonies. DUI can result in death or severe injury while a white-collar crime can be boiled down to simple theft and the felony is treated much more harshly under the law. Of course, a DUI that leads to an accident resulting in a death could have a vehicular homicide charge added.
Given the range of punishments and laws governing the various types of criminal charges and classifications, Cookeville criminal defense law firms need to make sure their clients fully understand the charges they face.
Knowledgeable legal defense in Cookeville
As a criminal defense law firm, we have years of experience defending against DUI, drug offenses, theft and other misdemeanor and felony crimes. Let our local knowledge work for you to provide the defense you need.
Get strong criminal defense in Middle Tennessee
For a free initial consultation with a Cookeville criminal defense attorney, please contact The Law Office of Douglas K. Dennis.
