Brown and Crouppen does not directly handle criminal law matters but here is some information that may help.
First and Foremost — Protect Yourself
Hire your own attorney or ask the court to appoint one for you.
Court-Appointed Attorneys
If you have been charged with a misdemeanor or a felony, the 6th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution guarantees that the court will provide you with a lawyer (a "public defender") if you are unable to afford one for yourself.
You will have to meet the indigency guidelines to qualify for public defender services. Applications are available at the courthouse where your case is pending and are provided at no cost. For more information, go to:
- Missouri Public Defender (for Missouri cases): http://www.publicdefender.mo.gov/clients/services.htm
- Illinois Public Defender (for Illinois cases): http://www.state.il.us/defender/dipd.html
Hiring Your Own Attorney
You can start by speaking with friends and family to see if they have a lawyer who helped them with a similar problem in the past. Referrals from someone you know and trust is a good first step. However, you may not be comfortable discussing the matter with friends and family. That's understandable and there are options for you.
If you have been charged in Missouri, try contacting the St. Louis Metropolitan Bar's Lawyer Referral Service. For a small fee, you will speak with an experienced staff person who will direct you to a lawyer. The lawyer will be in good standing with the Missouri Bar and will also carry appropriate professional liability insurance. You can call 314-621-6681 or 573-636-3635.
In Illinois, the Illinois Lawyer Finder Phone Service will give you the name of an Illinois attorney who will provide a half-hour consultation for a small fee. All of the Illinois attorneys are licensed and registered with the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission of the Illinois Supreme Court and carry professional liability insurance. Call (217) 525-5297 or (800) 922-8757.
Posting Bond
The court may require you to post a bond before releasing you before trial. Its purpose is to ensure that you show up for court. If you don't show up for court, the bond if "forfeited" and the full amount is turned over to the court. Further, not showing up for court almost always results in a warrant for your arrest and new charges for failing to appear.
If you have qualified for public defender services but are able to post a bond (especially a large bond), the court may decide that you are not indigent and deny you public defender services.
In Missouri, a professional bail bondsman can assist you with posting your bail. Illinois, however, does not allow bondsmen to operate within the state.
