When you are the target of a criminal investigation or prosecution, your freedom and future are on the line. When your freedom and your future are at stake, your choice of attorney matters. Choosing the right attorney, however, can be a daunting prospect under the best of circumstances. During the emotionally charged time period that follows an arrest or indictment it is often more difficult, yet even more important, to focus on finding the right Omaha criminal defense attorney for your case. At Petersen Criminal Defense Law, we understand the pressure you are under to make the right choice. Over the last 20 years we have aggressively defended thousands of clients in the Omaha metropolitan area and would be honored to be called upon to defend you and your rights as well.
The History of Omaha
Nestled along the Missouri River in eastern Nebraska, what is now the City of Omaha was once inhabited by various Native American Indian tribes. In fact, the word “Omaha” is a Native American term that means “dwellers on the bluff.” In 1804, the now famous Lewis and Clark expedition passed through what would eventually become the City of Omaha and met with tribal leaders in the area. In the decades that followed, settlors began building trading posts in the area as one treaty after another ceded land from the tribes to the American government. In 1854, one of those treaties ceded the land upon which the City of Omaha now stands. Throughout the remainder of the 19th century the area continued to grow, particularly after the westward expansion of the railroad was authorized by Congress in 1862. Omaha’s location as a stopping point for settlors heading west earned it the nickname “The Gateway to the West.” In 1883, the Union Stockyards were founded, eventually causing four of the five major meatpacking companies in the U.S. to locate in Omaha. By the middle of the 20th century, half of Omaha’s workforce was employed in some aspect of meatpacking and processing. Through the middle and latter half of the 20th century, the city struggled with racial unrest and loss of industries. However, moving into the 21st century, the city began to rebound and restructure. New industries began to crop up as expansion to the west continued while rejuvenation and restoration of downtown Omaha breathed new life into the city.
The Omaha of Today
Today, Omaha is the largest city in the State of Nebraska with a population of just over 400,000 in the city proper and double that at 800,000 in the Omaha-Council Bluffs metropolitan area. Located in what is referred to as “The Heartland of America,” Omaha-Council Bluffs metropolitan area consists of eight counties — five in Nebraska and three in Iowa. In 2009, Omaha came in No. 1 both on Forbes magazine’s list of the “Best Bang-for-the-Buck City” and on its “America’s Fastest Recovering Cities” list.
According to the 2010 Census, Omaha’s residents are approximately 73 percent Caucasian, 14 percent African American, and one percent Native American with 14 percent of the residents identifying as Hispanic or Latino. One in three households has a child under the age of 18 living at home, 40 percent are married couples, and almost one in ten has someone over the age of 65 living alone. The median age in Omaha is 33.4 with 25 percent of residents falling into the “under 18” age bracket, 11 percent in the 18-24 bracket, 28 percent in the 25-44 age group, 25 percent in the 45-64 bracket, and 11 percent are over age 65. The median household income is just over $51,000. Due in large part to Omaha’s thriving new economy, in 2013 Forbes magazine also named Omaha among its list of the “Best Places for Business and Careers.”
Residents and visitors alike will enjoy the wide variety of attractions and activities the city has to offer. For theatre and music lovers, Omaha is home to The Omaha Community Playhouse, the largest community theatre in the United States as well as the Omaha Symphony Orchestra.
Families with children won’t want to miss the Omaha Children’s Museum and the Henry Doorly Zoo, largely regarded as one of the premier zoos in the entire world. For a fun and eclectic shopping, dining, and entertainment experience, Omaha’s Arts and Entertainment District, known as the “Old Market,” is located in the historic section of downtown.
Sports fans are certainly not forgotten in Omaha. Although the city does not have a major league team, three minor league teams call Omaha home. The recently built CenturyLink Center is a testament to the city’s love of all things sports, including soccer, basketball, baseball and ice hockey.
Omaha Crime Rates
Whether you are currently a resident, planning to become a resident, or just considering a visit to Omaha, Nebraska, it is certainly worth your time to find out as much as possible about the city. Statistics relating to crime rates are something you undoubtedly want to know about the city as a resident or visitor. Read more about Omaha Crime Rates here.
Petersen Criminal Defense Law in the Omaha Community
Founding partner Tom Petersen graduated from Creighton University’s School of Law in Omaha over 20 years ago. Shortly thereafter, Petersen Criminal Defense Law was established. Attorney Petersen chose to focus his practice on criminal law because of his deeply held belief that everyone is innocent until proven guilty and, therefore, everyone is entitled to the best defense possible when accused of a criminal offense. By limiting his practice to one area of the law, Attorney Petersen has had the opportunity to hone his skills over the last two decades as well as develop a rapport with law enforcement, prosecutors and district attorneys, court staff, and others involved in the Omaha, Nebraska criminal justice system. Whether you have been charged with a first-time DUI or first degree murder, Attorney Petersen understands that you place your life in his hands when you trust him to represent you. If you have been charged with a criminal offense in Omaha, Nebraska, contact Petersen Criminal Defense Law 24 hours a day at 402-509-8070 to discuss your case with an experienced criminal defense attorney.
