Vernal is a city in Uintah County, Utah, United States. The population was 7,714 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Uintah County. The city's Vernal-Uintah County Airport has scheduled air service to Denver provided by Great Lakes Aviation. Service is subsidized by the Essential Air Service program. Vernal is one of the largest cities in the United States without a railway. One was proposed in the past, with a railway station being built. There is still a railway approximately 60 miles away from city limits. Railways are used for coal being delivered to the power plant and the transportation of gilsonite, a former major part of the economy in the area. The area is in a fossil fuel boom, bringing great amounts of economy to the area. Shopping centers and commercial districts are currently under construction. The Uintah Gateway Mall and the Vernal Towne center will offer the Vernal area with substantial shopping opportunities. Currently there are a number of hotels under construction, including two Marriott chain hotels, a LaQuinta, and others.

What is criminal defense law?

In a criminal case, the state, through a prosecutor, initiates the suit, while in a civil case the victim brings the suit. Persons convicted of a crime may be incarcerated, fined, or both. Criminal defense attorneys represent clients who have been accused of committing a crime, and defend their rights at each stage of a misdemeanor or felony case -- from an arrest to an appeal after conviction. Criminal defense attorneys may be hired privately or provided by the government (called "public defenders").

Answers to criminal defense law issues in Utah

The Fourth Amendment of the Constitution says that you have a right to be free of unreasonable police searches and...

The general criteria for making an arrest is what is referred to as probable cause. Probable cause arises when there...

There are two different types of warrants that may be issued:

  • arrest warrants - an order issued by a...

The Miranda decision relates specifically to the rights of a criminal suspect after he has been detained by the...

Bail is typically set by a magistrate or a judge who considers the seriousness of the offense and the likelihood of...

Early in the course of a criminal proceeding, the defendant will be brought into court and the charges brought...

At any point during this process the defendant may plead guilty to the charge leveled against him or her. Likewise,...

Criminal offenses can be divided into two general categories:

  • ­felonies -- a crime for which a person...

The distinguishing feature of criminal law is the element of punishment. The purpose of criminal law is to punish...

There are several defenses that can be raised in a criminal case. The defenses listed here are a sampling of those...