Criminal Representation
Kiersten L. Lane has worked as an Allegheny County Public Defender for five years and in that time, amassed many professional contacts; she is currently on the Federal Public Defender Board where she represents clients in Federal Court.
Criminal defense law consists of the legal protections afforded to people who have been accused of committing a crime. Law enforcement agencies and government prosecutors have extensive resources at their disposal. Without adequate protections for the accused, the balance of power within the justice system would become skewed in favor of the government. As it is, fair treatment for criminal defendants often depends as much upon the skill of their defense attorney as it does the substantive protections contained in the law.
Some potential criminal charges:
Driving Under the Influence
If you are charged with driving under the influence, call us immediately to evaluate your situation and the possible outcomes, including being eligible for an ARD program. If you have had multiple offenses, we can work to get you into a program.
Mandatory sentences are set by the Pennsylvania Department of Motor Vehicles and can be found here.
Drug Related Matters
We have successfully defended both adults and minors in drug-related offenses. In the case of a minor, special emphasis needs to be placed on penalties imposed by the school district.
Some potential outcomes of a criminal case are:
- A criminal investigation ends with no arrest.
- A person is arrested and charged with a crime and can enter into a plea bargain wherein the person agrees to plead “guilty” in exchange for some form of leniency, such as a lighter sentence.
- A person is arrested and charged, but before the case gets to a jury, the court dismisses it because the charges depend on evidence seized illegally by the police.
- A person is brought to trial and found “not guilty,” or acquitted, by a jury.
- A person is convicted by a jury and sentenced to a long prison term.
If you believe you need a criminal attorney, please contact us for a free review of your case.