What Happens After an Arrest?

Being arrested by the police in St. Louis or elsewhere throughout the state of Missouri can be one of the most traumatic and embarrassing situations you may ever encounter. With a valid arrest warrant, or probable cause in some circumstances, law enforcement officers are allowed to take you into custody wherever you are located – whether that be in public, at work, in school, at your residence, or even at a friend’s house.

The police may not thoroughly explain things to you as they handcuff and detain you, and you could be left with questions about what will happen next. It helps to understand the legal process so you can better prepare for your situation. An experienced St. Louis criminal defense lawyer will help guide you and help defend the charges. Call Combs Waterkotte right now at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online for a complimentary case review.

What Happens After an Arrest in St. Louis or Missouri?

No matter what law enforcement officers tell you – or neglect to tell you – when you’re arrested, there is a process following your detainment. However, regardless of the process that follows, the time to seek legal help from a qualified criminal defense attorney is as soon as possible after the arrest. Combs Waterkotte is here to help you through the process, which includes the following:

Charges

The police arrest you due to possible crimes you may have committed. You might not even know the exact charges or the list of charges until you go before a judge. You could have been arrested immediately at the scene of a potential crime, like a DWI/DUI arrest, or later following an investigation. Regardless if the charges are misdemeanors or felonies, a criminal defense lawyer at Combs Waterkotte in St. Louis can help. Call us today at (314) 900-HELP or reach out to us online.

Arraignment and Bond Hearing

Your time in front of the judge is considered your arraignment and bond hearing. The judge will provide you with all charges against you and may set bond. Your Combs Waterkotte criminal defense attorney can be instrumental in these early stages of your case – possibly getting the charges dropped or reduced.

Pretrial Activities

Many different activities take place to prepare for a trial. While the prosecution gathers evidence and prepares a case to prove charges against you, your St. Louis criminal defense lawyer is hard at work building a defense and filing motions to suppress evidence. There could be a pretrial hearing, depending on the complexity of the case. The prosecutor may offer a plea bargain. Your Combs Waterkotte attorney will go over everything angle of your case, along with the pros and cons of all aspects of a plea bargain.

Trial

You have the right to a trial, and the law assumes you are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. This is where you can seek justice from the judge or jury. Skilled, tenacious criminal defense lawyers, like the ones at Combs Waterkotte, work to legally exclude evidence when possible and provide a vigorous defense strategy.

Sentencing

If you are found guilty in court, the next phase is sentencing. Missouri law provides a comprehensive list of sentencing guidelines that the judge must follow. A judge can then consider various mitigating factors when determining a sentence. Your defense attorney will present every factor possible to attain the lowest penalties.

Appeal

You have the right to an appeal, if you are found guilty. You may appeal due to legal errors made during the trial or improper sentencing. However, a request for appeal is not automatically granted. A diligent defense lawyer in St. Louis can help file an appeal and get a resolution. Call Combs Waterkotte now at (314) 900-HELP or reach out to us online.