We live in a society where anyone who is accused of a crime—regardless of guilt—is guaranteed a legal defense. This means that at every level of the judicial system, the accused is afforded an attorney, whether that person is hired outright or appointed by the court. In some crimes, however, it is necessary to consult the highest level of legal professional available. If you or someone you know has been charged with certain kinds of crime, you will need to look into hiring a federal criminal defense lawyer.

The kinds of charges that usually are tried at the federal level generally involve sex crimes or financial crimes, such as extortion, money laundering and embezzlement. Not all felonies at the federal are death penalty cases; many are what you might know as “white collar crime,” but that doesn’t make the punishment any less severe. When it comes to sex crimes, a federal criminal defense lawyer can help defend you against charges ranging from statutory rape to prostitution to bigamy, among others. These are the types of charges that can mar a person’s good name in the case that they are wrongly accused, so you should make it a priority to find the best attorney who specializes in this type of defense.

As you may have noticed from all the commercials offering to protect or insure your identity, identity theft is on the rise, and this is another crime that generally falls under federal jurisdiction. If you have been charged with identity theft, you’ll want a lawyer who understands the technology involved in addition to any laws or regulations that may pertain to the battery or assault charges against you.

Other crimes that could result in federal charges include perjury, breaking parole, making false statements to a police officer, harboring or transporting illegal aliens, and any cross-border crimes (whether that be across state lines or national ones).

Your lawyer can mean the difference between acquittal and conviction, a reduced sentence and the death penalty. Federal crimes are generally prosecuted swiftly and with a heavy hand. Knowing you have an attorney who is looking out for you and ensuring you get a fair trial will help you get through this difficult time and, hopefully, get on with the rest of your life.