Dedicated to Defending Your Rights

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ATLANTA CRIMINAL LAWYERS

At Farnsworth & Murphy LLC, we use our decades of experience to build the strongest possible case.

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Farnsworth & MurphyFarnsworth & Murphy LLC
5 Stars - Based on 42 User Reviews
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Farnsworth & MurphyFarnsworth & Murphy LLC
5 Stars - Based on 42 User Reviews

Testimonials

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Phenomenal experience. I don’t even know to to convey how relieved I was with the outcome of my case. Mr Farnsworth went above and beyond to ensure I was properly compensated after my wreck. He’s truly an expert at navigating the complexities of the insurance/ medical billing world. Thank you so much!

JK

Farnsworth & Murphy got me the $$ I deserved with my car wreck. They wouldn’t settle for a lower amount and they put in the extra time and energy to make sure I was not being taken advantage of by the insurance company. The attention to detail and communication skills are top notch! I would highly recommend Farnsworth & Murphy for anyone needing an honest, upfront, and professional team representing them.

BW

Michael Murphy isn’t just a lawyer, he’s a decent man. I hired him to represent me a few months back and he immediately treated me as if I was family in an unconditional way. He went above and beyond for me as his client by not only informing me of all the details in my case in a language I could understand, but also established our relationship in a personable manner only view lawyers can possess. Simply put, I wouldn’t recommend another lawyer in the metro Atlanta area other than Michael Murphy.

LH

Keeping Your Record As Clean As Possible

When you are charged with a crime or cited with a traffic ticket, your first step should be to get in touch with an experienced criminal defense lawyer. The sooner you do so, the sooner we can protect your interests. We handle all types of criminal charges, including related forfeiture and criminal appeals.

Hiring a lawyer doesn’t imply you are guilty. It protects you from losing one of the most important rights you have: the right to be presumed innocent.

Free initial consultation:
470-601-6935

We are here to protect your rights.

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Free Initial Consultation

To speak to a lawyer today about your case, call 470-601-7056.

“We are here to protect your rights.”

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Farnsworth & MurphyFarnsworth & Murphy LLC
5 Stars - Based on 42 User Reviews

Get Fair Compensation For Your Personal Injuries

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Personal injury is another large part of our practice. Farnsworth & Murphy LLC has years of experience with a range of personal injury matters. We will help you make sure the insurance company sufficiently compensates you for your pain and suffering, the medical bills you have incurred, and the wages you lost while you were unable to work.

Call 470-601-6935 or complete our simple contact form to schedule a free consultation.

We offer flexible appointments

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SERVICES WE PROVIDE

Our Criminal Law Practice Areas at Farnsworth & Murphy LLC

At Farnsworth & Murphy LLC, we understand the trauma and anxiety that criminal defendants often feel. Our dedicated, proactive, and compassionate criminal law attorneys can represent you throughout your trial and work diligently to improve your chances of success and freedom from the criminal justice system.

We provide legal representation in a variety of criminal cases, including the following:

DRUG
CRIMES

DUI
DEFENSE

CRIMINAL
APPEALS

THEFT
CRIMES

PERSONAL
INJURY

SEXUAL
OFFENSES

VIOLENT
CRIMES

OTHER
CRIMES

With us, every case is unique, and each client gets a knowledgeable and skilled legal team that communicates effectively, offers personalized legal counsel, and puts maximum effort into their defense. You can trust us to handle your case with similar standards.

Remember, the prosecution has had time to build their case against you. You need to act fast so you have sufficient time to prepare your defense. Contact our criminal defense law firm immediately to get started.

Free Initial Consultation

To speak to a lawyer today about your case, call 470-601-6935.

“We are here to protect your rights.”

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Atlanta Criminal Attorneys

 Criminal law defines crimes, the punishment for those who commit crimes, and also the procedure to apprehend and prosecute suspected criminals.

Criminal laws in the US vary depending on specific state or federal laws, and the fate of a criminal defendant will often depend on the specific criminal law of the state where the crime was committed.

If you’re facing criminal charges in the Atlanta metro area, the information here can help you understand the applicable law in your case to help you prepare for your defense. You may also need to partner with skilled criminal lawyers near you who can help strengthen your defense.

Consider contacting an experienced Atlanta criminal defense attorney from Farnsworth & Murphy LLC, who can assess your case, help you learn your options, and defend you passionately. In the meantime, keep reading to understand how criminal law in Atlanta, Georgia works.

How Criminal Law Works in Atlanta, GA

Crimes in Georgia are categorized according to their severity as follows:

Felonies

felony in Georgia is any crime punishable by death, imprisonment for life, or more than twelve months. Crimes in this category are the most serious in Georgia and include violent crimes such as rape, armed robbery, and murder.

Misdemeanors

In contrast, misdemeanor crimes such as a first-time DUI, simple assault, or battery are considerably less severe and include all other crimes not designated as felonies in the Georgia Code. 

Crimes in this category are punishable with imprisonment for not more than a year. But the penalty for a misdemeanor crime could be more severe if it qualifies as a misdemeanor of a high and aggravated nature. A crime becomes a misdemeanor of a high and aggravated nature in certain circumstances, such as if the victim belongs to a class of specially protected persons under the law or the offense was committed in a designated public area.

For example, the offense of simple battery is classified as an ordinary misdemeanor by the Georgia Code. It becomes a high and aggravated misdemeanor in certain circumstances, including the following:

  • The victim is a pregnant woman, a police or sports officer discharging their duties, or a senior citizen 65 years or older.

  • The crime occurred in a public vehicle or transit station.

In such cases, the convict may be sentenced to pay a fine of up to $5000 and a term of imprisonment for not more than 12 months.

Ordinary misdemeanor crimes could also be elevated and charged as felonies if the suspect/defendant is a repeat offender. For instance, the first DUI offense is classified as a misdemeanor. But if the defendant has three prior DUI convictions, a fourth offense will be charged and punished as a felony.

Punishment for Crimes in Georgia

If you’re convicted of a criminal offense in Georgia, the penalties you could face include the following:

  • Imprisonment (sometimes for life)

  • Payment of fines

  • Probation

  • Community service

  • Driver’s license suspension (if you’re convicted of a DUI or traffic-related offense)

  • Registration in the state sex offenders register (if you’re convicted of a sex crime such as rape)

  • Death

  • Forfeiture of the proceeds of crime

  • Restitution.

In addition to these statutory penalties, a criminal conviction has far-reaching consequences that could affect the quality of your life even after you’ve served your sentence. Convicts are mostly viewed with suspicion in society. Since criminal records in Georgia are public, your conviction would appear on third-party background checks such as those conducted by a future employer. This could make getting a job, getting into your desired college, and advancing yourself difficult.

The surest way to avoid a conviction and the negativity that goes with it is to defend yourself diligently during the trial. A simple denial of the charges may not be enough to exonerate you. You’d likely need an experienced criminal lawyer to fight your charges and help you establish a suitable defense using their extensive knowledge of Georgia criminal law.

How an Atlanta Criminal Lawyer Can Help

The stakes are very high in any criminal case, and the value of having an Atlanta criminal defense lawyer in your corner from when you’re arrested to the conclusion of your case cannot be overemphasized. They can help your case in several ways, including the following:

Helping You Understand Your Rights

Every criminal defendant has certain constitutional and statutory rights, including the rights to a jury trial, against self-incrimination, and the presumption of innocence (that they are innocent until proven guilty).

An experienced criminal defense attorney can help you understand and protect these rights from infringement. Sometimes the prosecution may pressure you to waive some of your rights in exchange for some concessions via a plea deal.

Do not accept such agreements without the involvement of your criminal attorney. Your lawyer understands the long-term effects of such waivers and can help determine whether an acceptance benefits you in the long run.

Identifying Procedural Errors That Are Detrimental to Your Case

The prosecution and law enforcement agencies typically work together to investigate and build a criminal case. However, there are laws governing the investigation process which they sometimes overreach or apply erroneously. These errors could adversely affect the outcome of your case, which is why experienced criminal defense attorneys would go over the details of your case to be sure that no laws were broken or mistakes were made during the process that led to your arrest and during the trial.

Helping You Establish a Suitable Defense Before the Judge and Jury

It is not enough to state your innocence during a criminal trial. You need to establish a suitable defense in court and convince the jury that the prosecution’s case is ‘reasonably doubtful.’ An experienced criminal defense lawyer can help you formulate a suitable defense strategy and provide solid arguments that could convince the jury to decide in your favor.

Criminal defense lawyers are bound to employ their legal skills toward a favorable outcome for you. It is in your interest to avoid going to trial without one.