Your rights when facing forfeiture in Chatham County, Georgia
Defendant’s rights, and the process involved in criminal forfeiture, will differ significantly from state to state, and even based on the law you are charged of breaking. When you are facing criminal forfeiture of your property, you may be informed in advance of your prosecution. Sometimes, criminal forfeiture process will be commenced at the time of, or subsequent to conviction.
The method in which forfeiture will be effected, and whether the proceedings are “criminal” or “civil” in nature, will vary substantially from state to state. It is generally advisable to take assistance from a lawyer, if you are facing any type of forfeiture action.
Civil forfeiture is very much like criminal forfeiture in numerous ways. However, whereas criminal forfeiture imposes an extra penalty on the owner of property for his wrongful conduct, a civil forfeiture action is brought against the property itself. For criminal forfeiture to start, the owner of the property ought to be convicted of a crime, while civil forfeiture might happen although the owner is acquitted. In certain instances, the property owner may not even be charged with a crime. Civil forfeiture proceedings should demonstrate “beyond a reasonable doubt” that the property has a enough connection to a criminal offense to require its forfeiture under the law. Criminal cases should be tried under the much higher standard of, “Guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.”
If you are facing forfeiture in Chatham County, Georgia , contact a lawyer immediately.
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Savannah GA DUI Lawyer – Georgia Criminal Defense Attorney
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