Facing criminal charges is a serious matter, with the potential to impact your life in dramatic ways. Criminal charges can remain on your record, damaging your reputation and preventing you from getting a job, being eligible for student loans or mortgages, or engaging in activities you enjoy, such as volunteering or working in the community. In addition, if convicted of your charges you may be looking at heavy fines and potential jail time. All of this can be a high...

There are many reasons that good, honest people can end up facing criminal charges. Otherwise law abiding citizens are often at a loss to understand how the legal system works and what their rights are in it. The shock of being charged with a crime and coming to grips with the actual and potential ramifications of facing charges can be overwhelming. The result sometimes is that people do nothing, putting their trust in the court system to defend their rights...