HOW MUCH WILL CRIMINAL CHARGES COST ME?

LOS ANGELES CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY AND DUI LAWYER
Criminal charges are costly in many ways.  Not only do criminal charges come with fines, fees and attorney's fees, but there are costs harder to quantify, such as loss of liberty, loss of important rights, lost wages, lost career opportunities and more.

BAILING OUT OF JAIL | HOW MUCH WILL BAIL COST ME
Bail is often the most costly upfront expense in fighting a criminal case.  Although we operate in a system that claims its accused are presumed innocent, people are often in custody while they await a disposition and sentence in their criminal case.  Your attorney can help reduce the cost of bail in two ways (1) by getting a reduction with most bail companies of a bond from 10% to 8%, and (2) by trying to get bail reduced in court.  Bail can be reduced all the way to zero (own recognizance or "O.R.").  Ways to get bail reduced include arguing for a reduction at arraignment, arguing for a reduction at a bail hearing, or getting the prosecutor to file a lesser charge than the police originally recommend.  Our office has gotten bail reduced by as much as hundreds of thousands of dollars in a single case.  This can present a major savings.  Once arrested, you have a right to be brought to arraignment within two days.  This means that after spending just a few days in jail, you could potentially save thousands or tens of thousands of dollars in bail bond fees.  If you must get out sooner than your timely arraignment, bail may be the best option.  An attorney can help put you in touch with a reputable, reliable bondsman who will treat you with professionalism and respect, while also securing you some savings on the amount of the bond.
Los Angeles Felony Bail Schedule |Los Angeles Misdemeanor Bail Schedule

FINES AND FEES FOR CRIMINAL CONVICTION | HOW MUCH WILL MY FINES BE
Fines and fees in criminal cases do not always follow the severity of offenses.  Defendants sentenced to long prison terms for serious felonies often pay no fines at all.  On the other hand, a ticket for driving without insurance, paired with a failure to appear and a red light ticket will run you almost $2000 in LA County.  DUI cases are also a major source of revenue for law enforcement agencies.  It is not uncommon for police departments to devote more of their resources to DUI enforcement than to all other enforcement combined.  The fines for DUI in LA County total roughly $1900.  The base fine is $390.00, but ultimately "penalty assessments" and other fees added to the fine amount will increase the amount you must pay.  Due to penalty assessments, traffic tickets can vary from about $100 in actual costs, up to over a $1000.  Most misdemeanor fines are limited to $1000, with some having higher potential fines.  Felony fines can also be higher.  Court fees and other penalties can increase the end cost to the defendant.  Your Los Angeles Criminal Defense Attorney can argue and negotiate to have your fines reduced and to cost you less money.

RESTITUTION COSTS | DID YOUR CRIME HAVE A VICTIM?
If your crime had a victim, the court may order you to pay restitution to that victim to make whole any injury you may have caused to them or their property.  Common cases that involve restitution include: Vandalism, Hit and Run, DUI (with accident), Arson, Violent Crimes, Theft Crimes and White Collar Crimes).  Victimless crimes like drug crimes typically do not lead to restitution.  Restitution amounts are based on the actual loss to the victim of a crime.  If you have dented someone's car, and the repair was covered by insurance, but that driver had a $500 deductible, expect to pay about $500 in restitution.  Restitution is usually decided at a hearing after a conviction, where victims and the defendant may present evidence.  It is important to have your attorney review any restitution claims to ensure that you do not get charged too much for restitution.

ATTORNEY'S FEES FOR CRIMINAL CASES | HOW MUCH DOES AN ATTORNEY COST
Attorney's Fees vary significantly from attorney to attorney and case to case.  Attorneys may agree to represent you on a traffic matter for several hundred dollars, or may charge over 100,000 for representation in a murder trial.  Effective representation in misdemeanor cases typically requires no less than ten hours.  More complex cases, especially those with complicated motion issues take more time to be done right.  If your case is not likely to go to trial and you do not wish to assert your right to a trial, you will not pay a trial fee.  Trial is time consuming and expensive, but very few cases proceed that far.  Criminal cases are much more likely to be dismissed in the pretrial stages or to settle on terms agreeable to the defendant than to proceed to trial.  At the Law Offices of Nicholas Loncar, we offer fair, reasonable flat fees based on a time estimate. We also conveniently accept all major credit cards and offer flexible payment plans.

Keep in mind that those deemed able to pay by the court may be required to pay for using the services of the public defender.  While this cost will likely be lower than the fees charged by private counsel, defendants who end up paying for the public defender's services do not have any power to choose their representation.

LOSS OF LIBERTY | HOW MUCH IS YOUR FREEDOM WORTH
There's really no good way to measure the value of your freedom and liberty.  The easiest part of your liberty to quantify is your earnings.  If you are in jail for three months, you will not be earning any income for that time.  Bills will not stop, however.  Few people can afford to do significant jail time while still making rental or mortgage payments, car payments, bills, utilities, food, etc.  On top of the immediate financial loss of your wages, jail is unpleasant, and can be dangerous.  Not having to experience jail has significant value.  Here are some ways we can help you avoid jail

EMPLOYMENT PROSPECTS AND ADVANCEMENT | THE VALUE OF KEEPING YOUR RECORD CLEAN
Criminal convictions and jail sentences can have devastating effects on your career and lifestyle.  Misdemeanor and felony convictions can make finding a job very difficult.  Getting into school, or obtaining professional licensing for careers in nursing, medicine, law, law enforcement, contracting, and more can be hampered by

NOTE:  Immigration consequences of criminal convictions are important to consider when considering the cost of a criminal charge, arrest, case or conviction.  Theses costs may include additional immigration detention, immigration bond, deportation, immigration attorney's fees and much more.

COST OF A CONSULTATION?  FREE!  CALL 213-375-3775 NOW TO DISCUSS YOUR CASE!

The costs of a criminal conviction can be severe, and can haunt you forever.  You want to do everything you can to avoid a criminal conviction in your case.  If there are motions that can get your case dismissed, evidence that helps your side, or any holes in the government's case, you can avoid a criminal conviction and avoid jail time.  If you have been arrested, charged with a crime or may be under investigation for a crime, contact the Law Offices of Nicholas Loncar now for a Free Consultation with a Los Angeles Criminal Defense Attorney.

Nicholas M. Loncar, Esq. 
Los Angeles Criminal Defense Attorney
t: 213-375-3775 | f: 213-375-3099
Mobile: 323-803-4352 
NL@iDefendLosAngeles.com
1200 Wilshire Blvd | Suite 406
Los Angeles, CA | 90017
www.iDefendLosAngeles.com

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