Defendant’s rights when facing forfeiture in Savannah GA

Defendant’s rights when facing forfeiture in Savannah GA

Your rights, and the procedure involved in criminal forfeiture, will differ substantially from state to state, and even depending upon the law you are accused of violating. If you are facing criminal forfeiture of your properties, you may be given notice in advance of your prosecution. At times, criminal forfeiture proceedings will be initiated at the time of, or after conviction.

The method in which forfeiture will be effected, and if the proceedings are "criminal" or "civil" in nature, will vary hugely from state to state. It is generally advisable to seek help from an attorney, if you are facing any type of forfeiture proceeding.

Civil forfeiture is very much like criminal forfeiture in many ways. But, whereas criminal forfeiture means to impose an extra penalty on the property’s owner for his wrongful conduct, a civil forfeiture action is initiated against the property itself. For criminal forfeiture to be initiated, the property’s owner has be convicted of a crime, whereas civil forfeiture might happen although the owner is acquitted. In certain instances, the property owner will not even be charged with a criminal activity. Civil forfeiture proceedings has to establish "beyond a reasonable doubt" that the property has a enough relationship to a criminal activity to justify its forfeiture under the law. Criminal cases are tried under the much higher standard of, "Guilty beyond a reasonable doubt."

If you are facing forfeiture in Savannah GA , contact a lawyer immediately.

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Savannah GA DUI Lawyer - Georgia Criminal Defense Attorney