FAQ

Criminal cases are those where your life or liberty is in jeopardy. In other words your freedom is at stake, and you risk going to jail or prison.

No.  A convicted felon may not possess a gun or weapon of any kind.

The procedures for expunging a criminal record are set forth in Utah Code § 77-40-103.  A person who wants to expunge their criminal record must first obtain a Certificate of Eligibility from the Bureau of Criminal Identification and pay an Application fee.  Contact one of our attorneys today for an initial comprehensive review to see if you are eligible. Further Information on Expungements

The answer is forever unless you can get it expunged. However, many felonies are not even eligible for expungement, including first-degree felonies, violent felonies and felony DUIs.

You should contact your local clerk of court (in any relevant counties you may believe there is a warrant out for your arrest). You can also look at the Utah.gov website and search under your name.  You can also contact our office and we can run a check for you.

If you are being accused of child abuse or child molestation, it is absolutely critical that you not say anything to police or investigators. Many times a detective may call the alleged defendant and say they are simply “trying to get your side of the story.” What they are really doing is building a case against you.  If the police want to meet with you contact us, we will attend the investigation with you.  You have the right to have an attorney there throughout all stages of a criminal action.

Individuals who have been accused of a sex crime are often concerned about the potential of being on the sex offender registry. This is because being on the sex offender registry carries with it a very negative social stigma that can affect a person for the rest of his or her life.

The answer shockingly enough is yes. This actually occurs more often than people may think. If your child is accused of sexually abusing another child, seek legal representation as soon as possible.

Juvenile delinquency is when a minor has committed an act that is a crime. They are almost always tried in juvenile court, although in cases of extreme crimes, they can be tried as an adult.  For more information, visit the Utah State Court’s website on juvenile court.

Juvenile courts in Utah have jurisdiction of all minors under the age of 18 who have committed a crime. Juvenile courts are very different from adult courts. In fact, juvenile court in Utah is based on a civil system instead of a criminal system. Rather than having the purpose of punishment, the focus is on rehabilitation.  For more information, visit the Utah State Court’s website on juvenile court.

The answer is yes. There are those circumstances in which an alleged crime is so serious that a minor can be tried in adult court.