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Did you know hiring the most reliable criminal defense lawyer could mean the difference between facing your entire life in prison and getting freedom?
A criminal defense attorney can be an exceptional resource if you are facing charges. This is because they have all the skills to negotiate dismissing charges or reducing sentences through plea bargains.
Here is the information you need to know about when to hire a lawyer and why a criminal defense attorney can make a significant difference during your case.
Read on!
Why Hire a Criminal Defense Lawyer?
When people are faced with criminal charges, the first thing they should say out loud to the police is that they need to speak to their lawyer. This is when a criminal defense attorney comes in handy during the investigatory stage of a person’s impending arrest.
If you are aware that you are being investigated or have charges pressed against you, you need to look into hiring a lawyer.
Hiring a criminal defense attorney will benefit you by ensuring that you do not do or say anything that can incriminate you. They will also work on your behalf and check to see if all charges being pressed against you are warranted.
Your criminal defense lawyer is someone who will protect your rights. They also know all the questions that police are not allowed to ask you when they have you in custody.
This way, your rights will never be infringed upon, and the police who arrest you will also be held accountable if they conduct any malpractice.
When to Hire a Criminal Defense Lawyer?
The best time to hire a criminal defense lawyer is when you need to visit the police, or they want to come over and question you. You should never walk into any questioning with the cops unless you have a lawyer present.
Otherwise, you may not realize your own rights and give away incriminating evidence to the police that would have horrendous consequences when your case goes to trial.
Your lawyer will stay beside you and prevent you from saying anything you may regret. This is the best way to have protection when you are getting intimidated by the police, who do anything to dig for information.
If you hire the best defense lawyer after getting arrested, they can successfully negotiate to dismiss charges that are brought against you.
This is necessary because negotiation typically happens before criminal charges get finalized and become formal. Therefore, immediately hiring a criminal defense lawyer can result in you getting a lesser penalty.
During the Trial
During your trial, you should always have someone beside you who knows all the ins and outs of the legal system. Your criminal defense lawyer can become your professional representative by arguing on your behalf.
This is because criminal court hearings can be upsetting if you are the one involved in a case. It is best to have a legal expert fight on your behalf because they will never say things that can jeopardize your case.
Your lawyer will calmly speak for you and prevent negative consequences. They are the ones who can help get you the best chance of freedom.
Before You Get Arrested
The police are always after valuable information that can help them put you away. Therefore, you should hire a lawyer when you know you are about to get charged with a crime. Then your lawyer’s advice can significantly affect how much evidence the police have collected to prove guilt.
All criminal charges start off as investigations. Then the police either hand their report to the State Attorney’s Office to pre-file, or they can arrest you. This is the stage when charging you with crimes, and the length of your punishment can be made.
If you do not have a criminal defense lawyer at this phase, you may not have the right influence on these decisions to reduce your sentence and fight charges.
Besides preventing charges, hiring a lawyer can speed things up significantly. The criminal justice system can be confusing for people who lack experience.
It would be in your best interest to hire a criminal defense attorney to help reduce your charges and navigate the process from start to finish. Otherwise, you may face delays and get paperwork filed wrongly without legal expertise.
Level of Crime
Not all crimes are equal. Someone could be going away for murder versus another who was caught smoking marijuana at the wrong place and time. There are also white-collar crimes that people get charged for.
These can include fraud, wage theft, insider trading, and bribery. Since these crimes should not receive a hefty sentence like other criminal charges, here is what a white collar crime lawyer can do for you to get your charges dropped.
Do You Need a Criminal Defense Lawyer?
There is always an option to represent yourself if you do not want to hire a legal expert. You can also use a public defender, who is provided by the government to those who cannot afford a lawyer.
You can represent yourself or plead guilty, but this would not be in your best interest, especially if you are looking at serious criminal charges. Many charges brought against you may also not be legitimate. Therefore, you need a lawyer to go over the facts and fight for your rights.
Although this seems like a cost that most people would rather not pay, getting good defense can be the major difference between getting charged with a misdemeanor or a felony.
If you get hit with criminal or felony charges, you can face a long prison sentence. The best lawyer can get this sentence cut in half, which would not be possible if you do not hire the right legal counsel.
Hire the Best Defense Lawyer
Hiring a criminal defense lawyer can be your saving grace. Imagine getting put away for a long time in jail and not being able to see your loved ones as often because you did not have the right legal counsel to guide you during your case.
To prevent getting taken advantage of by intimidating police who will question you about every detail that you should not answer, always ensure you hire the best defense lawyer to stick up for your rights.
If you enjoyed reading this legal guide, check out some of our other posts for more information.
