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Experienced Attorney Representing Stockton Residents Facing Charges

Stockton has one of the highest rates of crime in its region, with over 4,000 violent crimes and over 11,000 property crimes committed there each year. A criminal conviction can dramatically affect your rights for the rest of your life. Therefore, if you are charged with a crime, it is critical to retain an experienced Stockton criminal defense lawyer who will formulate effective arguments in your defense. Attorney John W. Noonan has more than 55 years of criminal legal experience and regularly assists residents of Stockton in criminal matters. Mr. Noonan will work diligently to help you seek a successful outcome.

Obtaining a Police Report in Stockton

Residents of Stockton may want access to the arrests and convictions on their record. The San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office is tasked with maintaining all of the records related to incidents that were reported to or investigated by the Sheriff’s Office, and it releases copies of requested records to individuals and other law enforcement agencies.

Thus, a person who wishes to obtain a copy of a police report for a matter that occurred in Stockton, which is located in San Joaquin County, must contact the Sheriff’s Office. A request for a copy of a police report must be completed and submitted either in person or by mail to the Sheriff’s Office, which is located at 7000 Michael N. Canlis Boulevard in French Camp. The cost of a report is typically $10, but sometimes the cost may be greater. A report will be provided to the requesting party only if this disclosure is permitted under the current criminal laws. Additionally, a party seeking a report must show proper identification.

Understanding the Rights of Criminal Defendants

Criminal charges often cause fear and uncertainty, and criminal defendants may feel as if they have few options. State and federal laws afford protections to criminal defendants, however, which a Stockton criminal defense attorney can help them assert. First, the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution protects individuals from unreasonable searches and seizures. This means that, in most cases, a person cannot be searched absent a warrant or probable cause. Additionally, any evidence that is obtained through an unconstitutional search may be suppressed at trial. If a search results in an arrest and criminal charges, the California Constitution provides criminal defendants with the right to be advised of the specific charges that they face via an information or an indictment.

Criminal defendants are protected against self-incrimination under the Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Therefore, a criminal defendant cannot be compelled to testify or give any statement that is incriminating at any point from the initial investigation through the conclusion of a trial. Additionally, state and federal laws grant criminal defendants the right to a speedy trial, which prevents the State from unjustly delaying the resolution of a case. Defendants are also protected from being tried or convicted more than once for the same crime. The State only has one chance to prove that a defendant committed a crime, and it cannot retry a person simply because it did not obtain a conviction. A criminal defense lawyer in Stockton can explain more specifically how this double jeopardy concept works.

While criminal defendants often feel as if the odds are stacked against them, the State bears the burden in any criminal case of proving that a defendant committed a crime, and the law provides criminal defendants with important tools to prevent the State from obtaining an unjust conviction. If you face criminal charges, it is critical to retain a knowledgeable attorney to protect your rights and provide you with a strong chance of a favorable outcome.

Consult a Skilled Criminal Attorney Immediately

If your rights have been violated, or if you have been wrongly accused, you should not hesitate to get a lawyer on your side and pursue a dismissal of your case. Attorney John W. Noonan is an experienced criminal defense attorney who will work tirelessly to help you seek a proper result. You can reach Mr. Noonan at 925-479-0033 or through the form online to set up a consultation to talk about your case with a criminal defense attorney in the Stockton area.