Understanding Criminal Defense Lingo
You've probably heard the words "arrested," "charged," "convicted," and "sentenced" multiple times, but are you familiar with what each word means? Though they are sometimes used rather interchangeably by laypersons, each of these words has its own specific definition and application. Your criminal defense attorney is here to help you understand the unique distinctions between these criminal defense terms. Arrested To be "arrested" means to be taken into custody, usually to a county or municipal jail, by law enforcement and not being free to leave. Being arrested is not the same as being charged with a crime; once an individual has been arrested, the prosecuting attorney has a short period of time to file charges with the court. If charges are not filed, the arrested individual is usually released from custody. Charged To be "charged" with a crime means you have been named as a criminal defendant and an offi...