Criminal offenses in Ohio are split into different classifications: misdemeanors and felonies. Offenders have constitutional rights that need to be protected in both types of cases. The Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution protects citizens and criminal suspects from unreasonable searches of their property and persons, and prohibits police officers from making unlawful arrests (or “seizures”). The Sixth Amendment to the U. S. Constitution guarantees the rights of criminal defendants, including the right to a public trial without unnecessary delay, the right to a lawyer, the right to an impartial jury, and the right to know who your accusers are and the nature of the charges and evidence against you. While these Amendments may seem straightforward, the law on these rights is not necessarily so. Arrests made in violation of your constitutional rights may result in a dismissal of the charges against you. Every detail of each case needs to be reviewed by an experienced criminal lawyer to ensure your rights are protected.