Misdemeanors
Most misdemeanors in the state of Georgia are crimes that are punishable at most with a $1,000 fine and up to 12 months in jail. While less serious than felony charges, confident and competent representation is still vital to ensure the protection of your rights and future. Misdemeanor convictions will show up on background checks run by potential employers, lenders, and leasing agencies.
Family Violence Act
Georgia law pays special attention to violent acts committed between “family members”. This includes parents, children, and anyone who you share a home with that are not your siblings. For example, if you commit a battery against your father then you can be charged with O.C.G.A. 16-5-23.1(f)(2) Battery (Family Violence). These charges have greater implications on your future. First, under federal law persons convicted of acts of Family Violence have limited gun rights. Second, although battery is when you cause substantial physical or otherwise visible bodily harm to another and is a misdemeanor, if you are convicted twice of Battery Family Violence the second conviction becomes a felony with a maximum sentence of five years. Don’t let a heated disagreement over the dinner table derail your future, call our team and let us sort your case out.
Pre-Trial Diversion
Pretrial diversion is a program established under O.C.G.A. 15-18-80 that allows for citizens accused of a crime to get a resolution to their case without having to go through the entire process.You may be required to do community service, pay a supervision fee, and stay out of trouble for up to 12 months. If you are able to complete all the conditions imposed on you, your charges will be dismissed and the case will be over. 
Pretrial diversion is another chance where hiring our team of attorneys will help you get a better outcome. This team has set up hundreds of pre-trial diversions resulting in the dismissal of hundreds of charges and years of jail time avoided for our clients.
Should I plead guilty and get this all over with?
While it may seem to be the easiest solution, you should never plead guilty without discussing your case with a criminal defense attorney. The state is required to prove your guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, the highest standard in the Georgia judicial system. Having an experienced attorney holding the state to that standard often results in an outcome far better than you would get taking the “easy way out”. Our team will handle those tough negotiations while you focus on your life and loved ones.
Do I need an attorney in any criminal case?
Yes, you do! The only other option is to represent yourself which is discouraged by the legal system itself. You likely have never been in a courtroom in front of a robe wearing, gavel holding judge. Our team of criminal defense attorneys spends everyday either in courts or preparing for the next time they will be in court. You may think your only options are to go to jail or stay out of jail while a criminal defense attorney uses creativity, knowledge of statutes, and persuasion to create a result you will be happy with. Every judge and prosecutor has preferences on how they work out their cases and our attorneys know how to make the pieces fall in place.