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Being charged with a crime can be a terrifying event, and trying to figure out your rights and options can be a daunting task on your own. If you’ve been charged with a crime following a search and seizure in Tennessee and need a skilled criminal defense attorney, call me, Fisher Wise, at the Law Offices of Fisher Wise in Chattanooga.

According to statistics from the Crime in Tennessee annual report, there were 502,706 total reported crimes statewide in 2021. In Tennessee, a person arrested and charged with an offense may need to go through the criminal trial process to determine whether they’re innocent or guilty.

A mental health disorder or illness – such as anxiety, trauma, depression, PTSD, or bipolar disorder – can make a person aggressive, unable to control their emotions, or prompt them to commit a crime. Surprisingly, many alleged offenders facing criminal charges in Tennessee might have committed the crime due to their mental health issues. In order to find the defendant guilty of the charges, the prosecutor must be able to establish action and intent.

If you’ve been arrested for a crime, you're likely nervous about the penalties you’ll face if convicted. And, one of the biggest questions you may have is whether you’ll go to jail—and you’d be right to worry. Tennessee has one of the highest incarceration rates in the country, and in 2022, there were nearly 25,000 people in jail, per a report by the Tennessee Department of Correction.

Being charged with a crime is a serious matter. When a minor is charged with a crime, parental liability can further complicate matters. That is why understanding parental responsibility in Tennessee is a crucial part of protecting a minor’s right to a fair defense.

If you’ve been charged with a crime, police and prosecutors have assembled – in their minds – enough evidence to convict you, but not all evidence is necessarily admissible. If your Constitutional rights were violated in obtaining the evidence, your defense attorney can file a motion to suppress the evidence before the trial even begins.

Facing DUI charges in Tennessee can be a difficult and confusing experience. No one deserves to go through this frustrating situation alone, especially if they feel their rights were not protected. Reaching out to skilled and compassionate legal counsel can make the entire process much easier to handle, for both you and your loved ones.

When someone threatens your life with deadly force, you have a right to stand your ground and defend yourself. In some cases, however, if you take someone’s life while defending your own, you could be charged with a crime.

During a trial, the judge or jury will evaluate the available evidence, establish the facts of the case, and reach a verdict. However, the defendant's fate depends on the facts, strengths, and admissibility of the evidence presented at trial.

If you are facing criminal charges and think you are guilty, you may be wondering if it still makes sense to hire an attorney. The short answer is, “Yes, it does.” Remember that you are presumed to be “innocent until proven guilty,” which means an experienced attorney may still be able to fight the allegations against you.