Legal Practice Areas
Welcome to Darley Law! Whether you need a criminal defense attorney or a municipal lawyer, you have come to the right place. Jason B. Darley, Esq. has served the legal needs of people in Mobile, Alabama and the surrounding communities for many years. Mr. Darley was admitted to the Alabama bar in 2005. You can learn more about each of the practice areas he offers below.
Criminal Law
Mr. Darley represents clients charged with the following crimes:
Driving under the influence (DUI): Driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs is a serious offense in Alabama, even when it’s your first offense. You could spend up to one year in jail, lose your driver’s license for at least 90 days, pay a fine up to $2,000, and face other penalties if convicted of DUI for the first time. The potential jail time, driver’s license suspension, fines, and penalties such as mandatory DUI school or community service increase significantly with subsequent offenses.
A DUI conviction could also subject you to the ignition interlock program if you meet certain conditions. This would require you to blow into a breathalyzer every time you start your car. You would be responsible for the lease, installation, maintenance, and removal of the device as well.
Domestic Violence: Alabama considers a first-degree charge of domestic violence a Class A felony. If convicted, you would face one year in jail with no possibility of a sentence reduction if you have a previous conviction of the same charge. The victim may also file a restraining order against you. If you violate it, you will face significantly more jail time and fines. However, you have the right to legal representation to defend yourself against the charges. It is possible the person accusing you has filed a false report or exaggerated his or her injuries. You may also have a valid case of self-defense.
Drug Crimes: Not only can a conviction for the sale or use of illegal drugs have legal consequences, it remains on your record for life. That means you could still have trouble obtaining a job, housing, or a loan years from now. With so much on the line, you can’t afford to defend yourself or hire inexperienced counsel.
The severity of the penalties you face depend on the classification of the drug and how much you possessed at the time of arrest. Schedule I drugs are those considered the most addictive and dangerous, such as heroin and cocaine. Schedule V drugs have a minimal risk of addiction and have less serious effects. Marijuana is an example of a Schedule V drug. While it’s acceptable for medical use in some cases, it’s still illegal for personal use in Alabama.
Expungements: Jason Darley, Esq. understands that everyone makes mistakes and that some have more severe consequences than others. If you have paid your debt to society for a past crime, you may be eligible to have it permanently stricken from your record. This means your conviction will no longer show up in criminal background checks when you apply for a job, loan, mortgage, or complete an application for rental property.
Alabama does not allow expungement for serious or violent felony crimes. You must meet certain qualifications to apply for an expungement, including conviction of a non-felony charge that was dismissed with prejudice and that you have not committed any other crimes in at least two years. Mr. Darley will discuss all qualifications you must meet at your initial consultation with him. If you’re tired of your past following your everywhere you go and committed to living a law-abiding life in the future, it’s certainly worth your time to check into this.
Violent Crime: Conviction of a violent crime could mean spending the rest of your life in prison at worst or several years at best. These crimes include, but are not limited to, murder, manslaughter, rape, assault, robbery, burglary, and kidnapping. Alabama divides felony convictions into category A, B, or C with A representing the most serious charges. Category A crimes typically include murder, assault with a deadly weapon, or a felony sexual offense committed against a child. This carries a prison sentence of 10 to 99 years. Class B sentencing ranges from two to 20 years while Class C sentencing ranges from 366 days to 10 years.
Municipal Law
Jason Darley, Esq. represents clients charged with a traffic violation under the category of municipal law. The charge could range from a minor offense to a serious charge such as reckless driving. The latter category includes such actions as speeding, tailgating, passing other vehicles on the wrong side of the road, and failing to stop for a school bus. You could also face a charge of road rage for aggressive driving or getting into a physical altercation with another driver.
While not as serious as facing a charge of a felony crime, it’s important to realize that Alabama still considers a traffic offense a violation of the law. You could face fines, mandatory community service, suspension or cancellation of your driver’s license, mandatory driver education courses, and a fee payable to the state to reissue your driver’s license that’s in addition to any fines you have already paid. Besides the inconvenience of temporarily losing your license, you will likely have to pay higher auto insurance rates.
Contact Darley Law for a Free Assessment of Your Case
Mr. Darley understands this is an extremely stressful time in your life and he wants to make it easier for you in any way he can. You’re welcome to contact Darley Law at 251-441-7772 to request your free consultation with him. During this appointment, Mr. Darley will ask several questions about the charges you face, including how the situation happened and whether you feel you are guilty or not. Even if you don’t have a proper defense against the charges, he can work with you to potentially get them dropped or reduced.
Darley Law is conveniently located in Mobile, Alabama. Mr. Darley knows Mobile County courts well and is prepared to defend you.