It can be tempting to defend yourself in court when charged with a crime. You can save some money, and if you know that you are innocent, what’s the point of hiring a lawyer? And although there is a cost associated with hiring a defense lawyer, the costs can be even higher by not hiring one.
After your arrest, the individuals in the criminal justice system begin working towards a criminal conviction. After all, their job is to fight crime and bring justice to the courtroom. Having an experienced defense attorney on your side can protect your rights and best interests.
Many people aren’t aware of how much a defense lawyer can help them in court. This article will discuss what a criminal defense attorney can do for you.
Navigate the Court System
The most important way that a defense lawyer can help you in your criminal case is that they understand how the court system works. Even for people who work in it, the legal system can be very confusing. A good defense lawyer will know how the court system works and will be able to guide you through the process.
Investigate the Case Against You
Your defense lawyer will sit down with you to learn your version of the story. There will be specific questions they have, and you should be completely honest with them. After their interview with you, they will begin to investigate your case.
They may visit the alleged crime scene, review official reports, speak to witnesses, and analyze evidence. While the police are working to obtain evidence against you, your attorney’s goal is to find holes in the evidence and inconsistencies or discrepancies that can lead to reasonable doubt.
Studying the evidence will also allow them to work through legal theories that could counteract your conviction. An experienced attorney will be able to understand the evidence better than you can.
Negotiate On Your Behalf
Your defense lawyer will be able to negotiate plea bargains with the prosecutor. A plea bargain can remove some charges against you, or it can reduce your potential sentence. If you are representing yourself, prosecutors will likely not negotiate with you.
Plea bargains are especially important if it looks like you are facing a guilty verdict. It can help you avoid a trial and move on with your life sooner.
Advise You On Possible Outcomes
It’s essential to have an attorney who will advise you on all possible penalties you could face. You don’t want to have an attorney who assures you that nothing terrible will happen to you in court, then the next thing you know, you are facing a felony conviction and jail time.
Experience With Cases Like Yours
All attorneys are required to pass law school and the state bar before practicing law. However, all attorneys are not the same. An experienced criminal defense attorney has handled cases relating to criminal charges. With this experience, they can better represent you and provide you with the best outcome for your case.
Protect Your Future
Having a criminal record can negatively impact you for the rest of your life. However, a good defense attorney can work to get your charges reduced, lessen penalties, or even get the case dismissed if there are errors in the police investigation.
Represent You in the Courtroom
Trying a case can be nerve-wracking, especially if you are representing yourself. However, an experienced criminal lawyer will have significant trial experience. Not only will they fight for you, but they will also deal with witnesses on your behalf and will cross-examine witnesses for the prosecution.
In addition, they will be trying to show that there is no case or that the prosecution hasn’t presented enough evidence to remove reasonable doubt during the hearing.
Assist With Sentencing
Your attorney can also work out a sentencing program, and if you get convicted, they can present this and sometimes get your sentence changed. To keep you from ending up back in the system, judges are often open to sentencing programs.
An example would be a one-year jail sentence after a drug possession conviction. Your attorney could request four months in jail and eight months in a drug rehabilitation program. This way, you are getting help for your drug problem, so you are less likely to reoffend.
Let Jeremy Widder Law Help You With Your Criminal Defense
These are just some ways that a defense attorney can assist you with your criminal case. Knowing that you have an experienced, knowledgeable defense lawyer on your side can also help take away some of the stress.
The team at Jeremy Widder Law has years of trial experience focusing on criminal defense. We have represented hundreds of clients with criminal defenses such as protective orders, non-violent and violent felonies, substance-related offenses, and property offenses. We are by your side every step of the way, working towards your desired outcome.
Let us be your advocate. Contact us today to discuss the next steps in getting you justice.
