Lending Aid to a Friend

Being accused and charged with a crime can not only be overwhelming, but it can also be life-changing. Even if the crime that you have been charged with is relatively minor, you can be slapped with some serious fines, you can lose your freedom, and you can move forward with a criminal record that will make it hard to find a place to live and get a job. Luckily, if you choose to a hire a criminal defense lawyer, your best interests will be protected from day one, and he or she will work to achieve the best possible outcome in your criminal case. Keep reading to learn a few of the reasons why it is important to hire a criminal defense lawyer when you have been charged with a criminal offense.

Explain the Potential Case Outcomes

Selecting the most appropriate path to move forward requires understanding of the law and the potential outcomes of the case, which includes what may occur once the trial has come to a conclusion or when a plea agreement begins. A solid lawyer will be able to explain the terms of a plea deal in comparison to the possible outcome of a trial in the courtroom.

Enforce Your Individual Civil Rights

Authorities and prosecuting attorneys are required to follow certain standards that protect the Constitutional rights of an accused individual. Unfortunately, a lot of defendants are not aware of these procedures or what steps to take if their rights have been violated. One role that a criminal defense lawyer has is to protect the civil rights of their clients and challenge potential evidence that may not have been collected through the proper methods.

Negotiate with the Prosecuting Attorneys

More often than not, criminal cases are able to be resolved through a plea agreement without going to trial. However, prosecuting lawyers will generally not negotiate with defendants that don't have official legal representation. With a professional attorney at your side, he or she will be able to negotiate with the prosecutor for the most favorable results.

Identify Potential Defenses

In the event that your criminal case does make it to trial, the attorney will work to create a strategy that is specifically tailored to the circumstances that surround your individual case. Depending on the evidence that the prosecution has, your attorney may try to create reasonable doubt by finding weak points in their narrative, establishing an alibi for you, or proposing that there was an alternate perpetrator who committed the crime.

In any situation where you have been accused and charged with a criminal offense, get in touch with a criminal defense lawyer to protect your civil rights and develop a legal strategy for you moving forward.

To learn more, contact a criminal defense lawyer.