Gang-related criminal charges are taken seriously, especially in Georgia. You may feel like the odds are against you if you are charged with a crime in Atlanta because Georgia’s anti-gang laws are among the toughest in the country. Law enforcement pursues these cases aggressively. A knowledgeable and experienced Atlanta gang crime lawyer can be your best line of defense in protecting your freedom, reputation, and future.
Speak with our dedicated criminal defense attorney today during a free consultation.
Georgia’s Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act, established in O.C.G.A. § 16-15-1, makes it a criminal offense to participate in criminal street gang activity. A person can be charged with an assault, robbery, or drug trafficking, for instance, on top of a gang crime. Prosecutors may add gang charges to increase penalties, justify denying bond for the accused, and to prejudice the jury against an alleged gang member at trial. Even though Georgia allows almost all crimes to be charged as related to gang activity, common charges include:
In order to enhance the charges, the prosecution will allege that an accused is a member of a criminal street gang and that the crime was committed on behalf of or to benefit the criminal street gang. This enhancement increases sentencing guidelines and leads to mandatory prison time. This can have an emotional, physical, and financial toll on the life of a defendant and their family members. If you are facing these serious allegations, working with an experienced gang crime attorney in Atlanta can help you protect your rights and fight for the best possible outcome.
Gang-related charges are serious, and they require a strategic approach. Prosecutors may use circumstantial evidence, including tattoos and relationships, to try to prove their gang case. Gang charges are often subjective and influenced by bias or profiling, so it is critical to work with a gang crime defense lawyer who challenges evidence, questions assumptions, and works with former gang members and gang investigators to dismantle weak claims.
It is also important to build a strategic defense because a gang conviction can cause a felony to stay on your record permanently, be placed on law enforcement databases as being a gang member or associate, enhanced sentences for future offenses, loss of housing, loss of educational opportunities, and federal charges in addition to state prosecution.
Our Atlanta gang crime attorney will take a multi-layered defense to your case. Depending on the facts, defense strategies may include challenging the gang classification of the alleged organization or exposing prejudicial evidence. This can include fighting the admission of certain types of evidence, including social media posts and relationships.
Prosecutors must prove that any criminal act was committed to further gang activity. A skilled defense attorney will challenge this assertion by demanding strict proof. In cases where evidence may have been seized illegally, evidence of gang association is only through hearsay, or there was a coerced confession, these situations may be grounds for evidence suppression.
Even if you are not in a gang, you may need to hire an Atlanta gang crime lawyer. A criminal defense lawyer will provide immediate advice, file motions to dismiss charges, and challenge unlawful processes that violate your rights.
We understand that facing gang-related charges is overwhelming. Being charged is not the same as being convicted. Our relentless lawyers can fight for you, protecting your rights every step of the way. Contact us today to set up a confidential consultation.
