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Criminal Law is a field of law that deals exclusively with criminal sentencing and criminal punishments. The law practice of a criminal defense attorney usually specializes in two categories of crimes: misdemeanors or lesser crimes, and felonies, or greater crimes. Individuals accused of criminal activity (even first time offenders) should consult with a criminal lawyer or defense attorney as soon as possible.

Drug crimes cover crimes of possession, manufacture, use, and distribution. The legality of each drug is determined by the Controlled Substances Act, which groups drugs into five separate "schedules," with Schedule I marking the most controlled and dangerous drugs. Drug crime lawyers include marijuana lawyers, prescription drug lawyers, ecstasy lawyers, and other criminal lawyers.

Many first introductions to the criminal law system occur because of drunk driving, DUI, or DWI. Penalties for DUI and DWI can be severe under drunk driving laws, and it may be wise to consult with a specialized criminal law attorney such as a DUI arraignment lawyers in your area before undergoing a DUI sentencing.

Felony lawyers deal with felonies—the most serious crimes committable under criminal law. Murder, rape, drug trafficking, child abuse, burglary, gun possession, money laundering, and child pornography all fall under the "felony" heading. Criminal laws vary from state to state, as do criminal punishments, but felonies carry a heavy penalty: up to and including the death penalty.

Misdemeanors are lesser crimes handled by criminal lawyers, and are punishable by county jail time under one year and/or criminal fines. Petty theft, prostitution, and vandalism are all examples of misdemeanor crimes, and criminal lawyers have specializations in almost every category. Theft lawyers, for example, work specifically on theft cases.

The majority of speeding and moving violations are not criminal offenses, but there are exceptions. If you are caught driving without a license or find yourself speaking with reckless driving lawyers, then you have probably committed a criminal offense or misdemeanor. In these cases, you need an intelligent criminal lawyer to assist you.

White Collar Crimes are a variety of non–violent crimes that are usually committed in a business or commercial environment. Criminal lawyers that work in this area usually deal with things like embezzlement, credit card fraud, and insider trading. Most white collar crime prosecution is carried out by government lawyers with the accused defended by a criminal defense lawyer who is experienced in this type of crime.