Criminal charges move fast, and the first decisions in a case — whether to speak to police, how to handle an arraignment, what to negotiate and what to fight — often shape everything that follows. Attorney Hatfield brings ten years of public defender experience and over two decades of litigation experience to misdemeanor and felony matters throughout the Baton Rouge area.
Attorney Hatfield represents clients in the 19th, 18th, and 21st Judicial District Courts, as well as parish and municipal courts throughout the greater Baton Rouge area.
Louisiana criminal law is codified primarily in Title 14 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes, which classifies offenses as felonies or misdemeanors based on the possible sentence — a felony is any crime that may be punished by imprisonment at hard labor. A criminal charge triggers specific constitutional and procedural rights: the right to counsel, the right to a probable cause determination, and, in many first-offense cases, the possibility of a deferred sentencing agreement under Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure Article 894, which can allow a case to be dismissed after a probationary period without a conviction on the record.
Every case is different, and whether a deferred sentence, plea negotiation, or trial is the right path depends entirely on the facts of your specific charge.
"Teresa is an amazing attorney. She’s very knowledgeable & professional. She is dedicated to her clients and to the success of her cases. She responds to questions or concerns promptly with details."
L. Roane | Recent Client
Whether you're facing a first-time misdemeanor or a serious felony charge, Attorney Hatfield reviews the facts of your arrest, the evidence against you, and the procedure followed by law enforcement to identify every avenue of defense — including challenges to how evidence was obtained and whether your rights were followed at each stage.
Not every case should go to trial, and not every case should take a plea. Attorney Hatfield's public defender background means she has negotiated hundreds of cases and knows when a deferred sentence, reduced charge, or diversion program is a genuine opportunity — and when it isn't.
When a case needs to go to trial, you need an attorney who has actually tried cases in front of a jury, not just negotiated behind the scenes. Attorney Hatfield brings courtroom experience from both sides of the docket.
A criminal charge affects far more than the immediate case — it can follow you into employment, housing, and family court matters for years. Attorney Hatfield's decade as a public defender gives her a direct understanding of how these cases are actually built, argued, and won.
Contact The Hatfield Law Office, LLC to request a consultation and discuss the next steps in your case.
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