Howell and Walled Lake, Michigan, Criminal Defense Attorneys
Michigan trial lawyers with a focus on drunk driving criminal defense issues
A Michigan felony or misdemeanor criminal charge is a serious matter. It must be addressed by a skilled criminal defense trial attorney who will protect your legal rights.
Results
At the Walled Lake and Howell law offices of Reeds & Reeds, in our 40 years of practice and after over 1,000 criminal trials, we have helped thousands of Michigan clients secure positive results, and this is the measure by which a law firm should be judged.
Criminal defense attorney Michael Reeds is a noted author, lecturer, and commentator, and a contributor to the “Trial Tactics” chapter of the Michigan Drunk Driving Law and Practice book, a comprehensive resource for attorneys published through the Institute for Continuing Legal Education in Ann Arbor. Travis M. Reeds has also written, lectured, and commented on criminal defense, tactics, driver licensing, and domestic violence.
CONTACT US: 1-877-624-4044 TOLL FREE
This Criminal Defense Information Center is intended to provide general information—it is not specific to your case. If you have been arrested for drunk driving, drugs, domestic violence, a sex crime or any Michigan criminal charge, contact the criminal defense attorneys at Reeds & Reeds for afree consultation and a powerful legal advocate in your corner.
Criminal Defense - An Overview
Our criminal-justice system can be overwhelming and frightening. The United States' incarceration rate is much higher than that of other industrialized countries. Prison sentences are getting longer and more frequent. If you face the possibility of being accused of a crime, contact an experienced criminal-defense lawyer as early in the process as possible, preferably even before questioning or investigation.
A skilled attorney can fight for your legal and constitutional rights.
Remember that if you cannot afford to hire a lawyer, the government may have to provide one for you.
Criminal Liability
Historically in our criminal-justice system, two things must have been present for criminal liability to attach to an action. First, a person must have the intent to take the criminal action. Traditionally this culpable state of mind was called mens rea, Latin for guilty mind.
The second requirement for criminal liability is actus reus, Latin for guilty act. The prohibited physical event must take place in combination with the requisite criminal intention for the actual commission of a crime to take place.
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Constitutional Protections of the Criminal Defendant
When our country was founded, its supreme law was recorded in a document called a constitution. A national constitution establishes the country's basic philosophy and structure and can be looked at as the blueprint from which the laws will flow. The United States Constitution and its subsequent amendments define the scope of governmental power and reserve certain individual rights to the people.
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Classifications of Crimes
Because the negative behavior regulated by the criminal laws varies from relatively minor to devastatingly violent, crimes are classified into levels or degrees. The classification of a crime reflects its seriousness. If you face questioning or arrest or are accused of a crime, you should consult an experienced attorney as early in the process as possible for help protecting your legal and constitutional rights. A criminal-defense lawyer can explain the particular crime involved and its possible ramifications.
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The Death Penalty
Worldwide, capital punishment is becoming less popular and is seen increasingly as a human-rights violation. The majority of executions take place in Iran, China and the United States. In the US, 37 states and the federal government allow execution as a criminal penalty under certain circumstances. The states with the highest numbers of executions are Texas, Florida, Virginia, Missouri and Oklahoma. Experienced legal counsel is of the utmost importance for anyone accused of a capital crime.
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