What you need to know about the Michigan criminal procedure: Misdemeanors.

Misdemeanors in Michigan are criminal offenses. They can prevent a person from renting a home, getting a job, receiving federal financial aid as a student and much more.

There are multiple types of misdemeanor charges in Michigan. The first will land you in jail for 90 days, the second could reach up to 93 days, the third could have you in jail for a year, and the third is a high court misdemeanor that is punishable by up to two years in prison.

If you find yourself in a position where you are being charged with a misdemeanor there are a few things you need to keep in mind:

You'll have an arraignment.

When you first appear in front of a judge it is called an arraignment and enter a plea. If you choose guilty you could have your sentence given to you on the spot or the judge will set a later date for your sentencing. If you choose not guilty you will have a pre-trial conference scheduled.

The judge may or may not set bail.

At the arraignment, the judge will decide whether to set bail or not. Bail is a way for the court system to assure that you will return for future proceedings related to your case. Sometimes a judge will take your word that you will return and bail is not posted. A judge can also deny bail if he/she believes you will not return to court.

There will be a pre-trial conference.

During the pre-trial conference, you will meet with the prosecutor and your attorney to discuss your options. During this time you are hoping that you can land on the best possible outcome for yourself. Sometimes this is a plea bargain.

A plea bargain ensures you take a lesser charge than the original. A skilled attorney can orchestrate a plea bargain that is favorable to you. If you take a plea bargain you will not go to trial.

If you plead not guilty you will have a trial.

If you plead not guilty you will have a trial. Trials can last a few hours and sometimes even weeks. If you have an experienced attorney he/she can guide you through this process seamlessly.

If you are convicted of a misdemeanor it can seriously alter your life. Don't hesitate to get the legal counsel that you need. At Gower Law PLC, we tackle even the most complicated of cases. Our highest priority is getting you the best outcome possible. The sooner we start working on your case the better, so if you are in need of our services give us a call today: 989-894-0100.

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