Have you been charged with a criminal offense in Wisconsin? If so, you will need a Wisconsin Criminal Defense Lawyer. Everson & Richards, LLP are Wisconsin Criminal Defense Attorneys serving the entire state of Wisconsin.
What constitutes a Criminal Offense in Wisconsin?
Anything that is a crime against the government (local, state, or federal) is considered a criminal case. Criminal offenses include, but are not limited to:
- murder
- shoplifting
- robbery
- kidnapping
- rape
- assault
- arson
- tax evasion
- bribery
- larceny
Criminal Cases Overview
A person accused of a crime is generally charged in a formal accusation called an indictment (for felonies or serious crimes) or information (for misdemeanors). The government, on behalf of the people of the United States, prosecutes the case through the United States Attorney’s Office if the person is charged with a federal crime. A state’s attorney’s office prosecutes state crimes.
It is not the victim’s responsibility to bring a criminal case. In a kidnapping case, for instance, the government would prosecute the kidnapper; the victim would not be a party to the action.
In some criminal cases, there may not be a specific victim. For example, state governments arrest and prosecute people accused of violating laws against driving while intoxicated because society regards that as a serious offense that can result in harm to others.
When a court determines that an individual committed a crime, that person will receive a sentence. The sentence may be an order to pay a monetary penalty (a fine and/or restitution to the victim), imprisonment, or supervision in the community (by a court employee called a U.S. probation officer if a federal crime), or some combination of these three things.
From the Federal Judicial Center