If you or a loved one have been arrested or made the subject of a criminal investigation, you may need the immediate assistance of an experienced criminal defense lawyer. Unlike civil court cases, where money or property may be at stake, people suspected of committing a crime will see their fundamental freedoms put in jeopardy, and should act quickly to make sure that their rights are protected by an experienced criminal defense attorney.

Search the FindLaw Lawyer Directory for a Criminal Defense Attorney near you.

If You Cannot Afford a Lawyer

At most steps in the criminal justice process, the United States Constitution guarantees the assistance of an attorney to almost all people who have been charged with a crime. This means that, even if you cannot afford to hire a criminal defense lawyer for yourself or a loved one, the government will provide you with a lawyer free of charge. Usually employed by the government as "public defenders", these attorneys are responsible for zealously protecting a criminal defendant's rights at all stages of the criminal process -- from arrest to appeal.

To learn more about the right to counsel, go here.