Criminal Law
What to expect after an arrest, how the criminal process works, and the difference between the charges you might be facing.
Utah Diversion Agreements: How They Work
A diversion agreement is rarer and more favorable than a plea in abeyance — with diversion, no charges are ever filed with the court at all, and you never have to plead guilty to anything.
Plea Bargains in Utah: How They Work
Utah has a distinctive plea option most states don't offer the same way — a 'plea in abeyance,' where a guilty plea is held for up to three years and can be thrown out entirely if you complete the terms.
Criminal Appeals in Utah: The Basics
The deadline to appeal a Utah criminal conviction is jurisdictional — miss it by even a day, and the Court of Appeals loses the power to hear your case no matter how strong your argument is.
Utah Preliminary Hearings Explained
Utah applies a notably liberal preliminary hearing standard — the judge views evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution and doesn't weigh witness credibility at all.
Utah Traffic Tickets and the Points System
Utah's Driver License Division tracks demerit points for traffic violations — accumulate enough within 3 years, and your license faces suspension. Here's how the numbers work, and how to bring them back down.
Utah DUI Process: From Arrest to Resolution
A Utah DUI arrest triggers two separate processes at once — a criminal case, and a 10-day deadline to request a hearing to protect your driver's license.
Public Defender Eligibility in Utah
If you can't afford a private criminal defense attorney in Utah, you're generally entitled to a public defender — here's how the indigency determination actually works.
Utah Probation Violations: What Happens Next
A probation violation hearing isn't a new trial — no jury, relaxed evidence rules, and a lower burden of proof than the original case required.
What Happens During a Utah Arraignment
What a Utah arraignment actually covers — the charges, your right to counsel, entering a plea, and release status — and why having a lawyer there matters.
Utah Bail and Pretrial Release: How It Works
Utah's pretrial release system, the 24-hour rule that can require automatic release, and how own recognizance differs from posting bail.
Misdemeanor vs. Felony: What's the Difference?
The line between a misdemeanor and a felony isn't just about the maximum sentence — here's what actually changes depending on which one you're charged with.
Understanding Your Miranda Rights
What Miranda rights actually cover, when police are required to give them, and the most common misunderstandings about how they work.
What Happens After You're Arrested: The Criminal Process Explained
From handcuffs to trial: the general stages a criminal case moves through, and what actually happens at each one.