Real Estate Law Misconceptions

Public intoxication is often overlooked as a criminal charge. Many people do not think that they need to say or do anything in response to these allegations because they seem so trivial. The truth is that you should take public intoxication charges seriously. You should consider hiring a lawyer to get through the allegations as well. Here's what you need to know.

What Are Public Intoxication Charges?

Public intoxication charges depend on where you are located. In many states, you could face these charges if you are under the influence in public while participating in some sort of activity that involves endangering others or an activity that involves offensive behavior.

What Do You Need to Prove?

The good thing about facing criminal charges is that you do not have the burden of proof. The prosecution is the party that must prove that you were intoxicated in public. So, the state will need to first establish that you were in public and that you were under the influence. The prosecution will also argue that you participated in behavior that endangered others or was offensive in some way.

What Happens If You Are Convicted of Public Intoxication?

If you are convicted of public intoxication, there are some serious penalties you may face. While you will not have to deal with a felony on your record or anything like that, you may end up paying a fine or spending some time in jail. Keep in mind that there are a lot of potential side effects you could face in the future. For example, your conviction could come up in a divorce or custody case. It could also harm your ability to get or maintain a job or professional license. In some cases, people have had to leave school as a result.

You Need a Criminal Defense Lawyer

It is important that you hire a criminal defense lawyer to manage your public intoxication charges. While you may not think that these charges are serious, you should never ignore them or discount their ability to impact your life. There are a lot of issues that you may not consider when you face off against a prosecutor in court, but these are the things that your criminal defense lawyer will do for you. When you hire a lawyer to defend you, you do not have to worry about building a strong defense, and you can count on your lawyer to look out for your best interests.

For more information, contact a criminal defense lawyer.