Federal Criminal Defense Benefit

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Who is Eligible Any covered member who is a Defendant in a criminal action arising from a non-work-related incident. Use of the Criminal Defense Benefits, both state and federal, is limited to a total of two Criminal Matters each year.

What is the Benefit The Fund will provide a member with an attorney from a panel law firm when the member is accused of committing a federal crime except for those matters which are excluded from coverage in the case of a state court prosecution.

Exclusions And Limitations Excluded from the Federal Criminal Defense Benefit are the following:

• traffic infractions occurring in federal jurisdictions
• appeals from conviction for covered charges
• charges in jurisdictions outside Fund's Geographic Area of Coverage
• matters that are excluded in the case of a state court prosecution (e.g., murder, manslaughter, or an attempt at either, Class A drug offenses).

How to Obtain the Benefit To obtain this benefit, you or anyone acting on your behalf should contact the Legal Services Fund office. An appointment with a panel attorney will be arranged for you, after which time you and the attorney will fill out the appropriate claim forms.

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