If you have been charged with a crime, you may be wondering whether or not you really need a criminal defense attorney. Here’s what you need to know.
If you have been charged with a crime, you may be wondering whether or not you really need a criminal defense attorney, especially if the charges against you seem minor. What you may read in statute books, however, often varies widely from how a case may actually turn out in court.
Prosecutors have a way of recasting what appears to be one crime as a variety of other crimes, and without a criminal defense attorney, you have no one on your side to examine the evidence in an attempt to get the case dismissed, or ensuring you are not charged unnecessarily with multiple crimes. Likewise, without an attorney, a prosecutor will not likely bargain with you for a lesser plea.
You may be well educated and highly intelligent, but without substantial training and experience in criminal law, you should not attempt to represent yourself in a criminal case.
What a criminal defense attorney can do for you
Criminal defense lawyers do a lot more than argue a case in court. Your criminal defense attorney will:
- Review the evidence to determine whether or not the police properly investigated your case and whether or not that evidence supports a conviction if your case were to go to trial.
- Determine if there is a way to win the case at trial, or get it dismissed due to insufficient or illegally obtained evidence.
- If winning the case, reduction in charges, or dismissal of the case is not a viable possibility, negotiate deals with the prosecutor for the most reasonable punishment as possible.
- Tailor your sentencing program to suit your individual needs.
- Help you (and your loved ones) deal with the emotions that often accompany a criminal case, including fear and anxiety.
- Provide you with realistic expectations in your case and prepare you for what will likely happen if your case goes to trial.
Defense attorneys are more familiar with legal rules and court customs and procedures that you may not find written in a book. They are also well versed in court interpretations of federal and state statutes and constitutions.
Gathering evidence and documents, and performing research is a time-consuming job. A criminal defense attorney has both the time and experience to dedicate to your case, ensuring you receive the best possible outcome, and lowest sentence possible.
If you have been charged with a crime, no matter how minor, hire an experienced criminal defense lawyer to handle your case so you can focus on what’s most important — caring for yourself and your loved ones.