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Felony Charges in Rhode Island

What Happens if I’m Facing Felony Criminal Charges in Rhode Island?

Being charged with a felony is significantly more serious than a misdemeanor criminal charge and penalties are more severe. Examples of felony criminal charges in Rhode Island:

  • Burglary
  • Breaking and entering
  • Arson
  • Murder
  • Rape
  • Kidnapping
  • Grand theft
  • Sale of illegal drugs
  • Felony DUI

A felony charge will be handled by a Superior court in your jurisdiction. Felony criminal charges in Rhode Island involve crimes that can result in expensive fines and years in prison.

What is the Process After a Felony Arrest?

Here’s a brief summary of the procedure after a felony arrest:

  1. An initial appearance in court: After a felony arrest, you’ll first appear before a judge in a district court, enter a plea, and your bail will be set. The state will then decide whether or not to formally charge you with felony criminal charges in the superior court, according to the evidence they’ve collected. Throughout this time, you may be released on bail while awaiting the decision.
  2. Arraignment: If you are formally charged by the Rhode Island Attorney General’s office, you’ll be given a date for your arraignment. This is when you stand before a judge and enter a formal plea of “not guilty”. Once a judge accepts your plea, you’ll receive a pre-trial hearing date.
  3. Pre-Trial Meeting: Your criminal defense attorney will receive something called an information package from the prosecutor. This will most likely include the police report, details of any physical evidence, witness testimonies, or other information pertaining to your felony criminal charges. Depending on the complexities of the case, you may have more than one pre-trial meeting where you and your attorney will discuss your defense strategy.
  4. Trial: As your case moves through the system, your criminal defense attorney will work with the prosecution to attempt to have the felony charges dropped or negotiate on your behalf to reach a plea deal. If an agreement cannot be reached, your case will go to trial. At your trial, both sides will present evidence, and a judge and/or jury will provide
    a verdict.
  5. Sentencing: If you’re found not guilty of the felony criminal charges in Rhode Island, you’ll be immediately released from prison or released from all bail conditions. If you’re given a guilty verdict, your criminal defense attorney can fight to have you released on bail. The judge will review a pre-sentence package that provides information on you, your criminal charges, and any other details to consider before formal sentencing takes place. At a sentencing hearing, your defense attorney and the prosecution will discuss what they feel is a fair penalty and the judge will determine a final sentence.

How Can a Rhode Island Criminal Defense Attorney Help With Your Felony Charges?

Facing a felony charge can be a scary experience, but having a trustworthy Rhode Island criminal defense attorney by your side can make the process a lot easier.

The Rhode Island criminal justice system aims to punish those who commit felonies to the fullest extent of the law. You need a criminal defense lawyer who can identify mistakes made by the arresting officers, identify flaws in the evidence, interview witnesses, and find weaknesses in the prosecutor’s case.

Without an experienced criminal defense attorney, you may face unnecessary and unjust consequences, including the loss of your rights and your freedom. If you’ve been arrested for a felony, contact a Rhode Island criminal defense attorney today to learn more about your options.

Rhode Island Felony Lawyer S. Joshua Macktaz, Esq.

The Rhode Island Felony Lawyer S. Joshua Macktaz, Esq. is available 24 Hours a day seven days a week to help you with your felony charges. I can’t stress enough how important it is to contact an attorney immediately after an arrest so they can start working on your case.

If you are looking to get the best results, you want someone who has extensive experience in the area. I have offices in Cranston, Providence, Warwick, Narragansett, North Smithfield, and Newport. For a free consultation at one of my offices feel contact us at (401) 861-1155. Good people make mistakes too, don’t leave your freedom to chance. Contact Rhode Island Criminal Lawyer S. Joshua Macktaz, Esq. today.