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| LUTHENS LAW OFFICES |
| Des Moines Office |
| West Towers Building , Suite 206-24 |
| 1200 Valley West Drive |
| West Des Moines, Iowa 50266 |
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| Colfax Office |
| Luthens Law Building |
| Eight West Howard Street |
| Colfax, Iowa 50054 |
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| Telephone: (800) 685 7948 |
| Email: info@luthenslaw.com |
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| The workers compensation & personal injury claims and settlement attorneys at the Luthens Law Offices, P.C. are dedicated to serve their clients in central Iowa, including the cities of West Des Moines, Colfax, Sioux City, Council Bluffs, Des Moines, Fort Dodge, Ames, Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, Davenport, Dubuque, Waterloo and Burlington , and the communities that make up Woodbury, Pottawattamie, Polk, Webster, Story, Linn, Johnson, Scott, Dubuque, Black Hawk, and Des Moines counties. |
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CRIMINAL DEFENSE | BACK TO PRACTICE AREAS
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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I. Overview
II. The Criminal Defense Process
III. Misdemeanors
IV. Felonies
V. False Accusations
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Overview
Criminal law covers “public wrongs”, or offenses against the public and order. The federal, state, and local governments all define these laws and prosecute people who commit these crimes. Public wrongs range from traffic violations to the most serious offenses such as rape or murder. Those charged with a crime all called “defendants”. They are represented by defense attorneys, while the government that charges the defendant is represented by an attorney called a “prosecutor”. If you are charged with a crime, you will need representation by an attorney with experience in criminal defense in order to protect your legal rights.
The Constitution of the United States requires the government to follow the due process of law before depriving a person of their life, liberty, or property. Criminal statutes must therefore clearly define all crimes and criminal conduct, and cannot be vague or prevent understanding of conduct prohibited by law. Criminal statutes must define a guilty state of mind (called mens rea) as well as an illegal action (called actus reus). For example, it is not a crime to bump someone on a crowded train, because there was no criminal intent. It is also not a crime to think about harming someone without acting. This requirement also applies to attempted crimes. Conviction requires the defendant to take action to attempt a crime. An experience criminal defense attorney can explain these terms and concepts, and help you to understand the specifics of your situation.
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DISCLAIMER: The information you obtain at our firm web site is not, nor is it intended to be, legal advice. It is recommended that you should consult an attorney for individual advice regarding your own situation.
Copyright © MMVII JAKOBIE
If you would like to schedule a free initial consultation contact an attorney representing clients in Des Moines, Iowa at the Luthens Law Offices, P. C.. Give us a call at (800) 685 7948 or email us at Info@luthenslaw.com.
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