After going through a criminal trial and hearing the jury return a guilty verdict, discouraged is usually not strong enough of a word to describe how a convicted person feels. Unfortunately, however, the justice system is not perfect, and every year there are people convicted for crimes they did not commit or which are based on shoddy, manipulated evidence. Other times, a criminal defense attorney may have been working for the state and have had such a large number of cases that he or she was not able to provide the defendant with the competent defense they deserved. Whatever the reason, the appeals process for a wrongful conviction is an essential part of the criminal justice system and a Wisconsin criminal appeals lawyer can help you determine whether an appeal is right for you or your loved one.

The Right to Appeal

If your sentence resulted from a guilty plea or a plea bargain, you usually will not have the right to appeal. Appeals can be requested for criminal cases involving a guilty conviction by a judge or jury, but an attorney must submit a request for appeal to a Wisconsin appellate court. The appellate court could do any of the following:

• Send the case back to court
• Reverse the conviction
• Change the sentence
• Deny the request for an appeal

What the appellate court does will depend on the circumstances of the case and the argument made by the attorney submitting the appeal.

People who are accused of crimes very often feel threatened by police, investigators, and prosecutors who are eager to secure a conviction and who may not necessarily care whether the person they are accusing is, in fact, responsible for the crime. Investigators may try to pressure someone into answering questions without their attorney present, and prosecutors may give the impression that they have enough evidence to secure a conviction, whether they really do or not.

That being said, when the evidence suggesting the accused is guilty is overwhelming, especially if the accused has a long criminal history, taking a plea bargain can be a good way to minimize fines, time in jail, and the charges that will go on his record. The only way to know for sure whether taking a plea deal is a good idea is by first meeting with an experienced Wisconsin criminal defense attorney.

What Are the Benefits of Taking a Plea Bargain?

Most people who take a plea bargain do it because they get a less severe sentence and a lighter charge. For example, if you have been accused of transporting drugs across state lines with the intent to distribute, which is a potential felony, you may be able to get the charges reduced to misdemeanor possession. You may also be able to save money on the cost of hiring legal representation throughout the course of a criminal trial.

When you get your driver’s license in Wisconsin, you agree to follow the rules of the road and that includes commands and directions given by a police officer. If you approach a stop sign, you must stop. If a police officer asks you to get out of your car, you must do so. And most people know that trying to escape from a pursuing police officer can get you in big trouble. But what if you are listening to loud music on a sunny day and do not see the lights or hear the siren? What if you were getting pulled over in a notoriously unsafe place? If you have been charged with fleeing/eluding a police officer, contact a criminal defense attorney right away.

Fleeing/Eluding Police Officers Is a Class I Felonies in Wisconsin

If a driver does not pull over after a police officer gives the driver an audio or visual signal to do so, the driver could be charged with fleeing/eluding a police officer. Charges for fleeing/eluding a police officer are usually brought after someone tries to get away from a police officer by engaging in a risky high-speed chase, or by trying to hide.

Fleeing/eluding a police officer is a Class I felony, which, if successfully convicted, can result in up to three and a half years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. If the driver of a vehicle engaged in a high-speed chase and endangered the lives of other drivers and the police officer, the driver will likely face a charge of recklessly endangering safety, which is a Class F felony that allows up to 12 and a half years in prison and a fine up to $25,000.

In the state of Wisconsin, reckless driving can be prosecuted as a criminal offense. It is defined as operating a vehicle in a careless or negligent manner, which endangers the safety of others. If you are convicted of reckless driving, you could face significant penalties, including fines and possible jail. In this blog post, we will discuss what reckless driving is, the penalties for a conviction, and some defenses to consider if you are charged with this crime.

Understanding the Offense of Reckless Driving

Reckless driving is prohibited by Wisconsin Statute 346.62, which provides that "No person may endanger the safety of any person or property by the negligent operation of a vehicle." In order to be convicted of reckless driving, the prosecution must prove that you were operating your vehicle in a manner that showed a disregard for the safety of others. This can be proven through circumstantial evidence, such as the way you were driving, what you said to the police, or even your demeanor at the time of your arrest.

Penalties for Reckless Driving Convictions in Wisconsin

The penalties for a reckless driving conviction depend on the severity of the offense and whether anyone was injured as a result of your actions. If you are convicted of a reckless driving offense for putting someone in danger and it is your first offense, you will face fines of up to $200. If your driving led to another person suffering a minor injury, you could face up to 30 days in jail and up to a $2,000 fine. If you are convicted of reckless driving that causes “great bodily injury,” you could face up to three and a half years in prison and up to $10,000 in fines.

If your child has just been charged with underage OWI in Wisconsin, you may be feeling a range of emotions, from shock to anger to worry. It's important to know that there are consequences for underage drinking and driving, but there are also ways to minimize the negative impact of an OWI on your child's life. Here is what you need to know about the penalties for an underage OWI in Wisconsin and what you can do next.

Penalties for an Underage OWI in Wisconsin

The penalties for an Operating While Intoxicated (OWI) conviction for an underage person in Wisconsin depend on the facts of the case, but they can range from a fine to jail time. If your child is convicted of an underage OWI, they may face the following penalties:

• Fines of up to $500

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