If you’ve been charged with a crime, you might wonder if a criminal defense attorney can do anything for you, especially if you think your charge is fairly minor in nature. The truth is that excluding crimes like traffic violations, you should hire a criminal defense lawyer near Stockton or another major city to protect your rights and argue your defense. Here’s why.
They Know the Law
This is the biggest reason for hiring an experienced criminal defense attorney. They’ve spent their entire career dealing with the legal details that can mean the difference between being convicted or acquitted. Not only do you not have the time to learn everything you’d need to know to properly defend yourself in a criminal case before your trial comes up, but also you can’t get the experience you need either. A criminal defense attorney knows how to craft a defense that has the best chances of succeeding in a court of law because they’ve done it all before.
They Know How to Plea Bargain
Sometimes, the best defense is to admit you committed a crime (not necessarily the one you’re initially charged with) in exchange for a lesser sentence. A criminal defense lawyer knows how to negotiate the best plea deal possible for your situation. If you try to negotiate this on your own, you may do or say something that could actually make your situation worse. Your lawyer will make sure you don’t incriminate yourself and will fight for the lowest penalty they can. It may not mean walking free, but you can bet it will be better than what you could receive if you went to trial.
They Know the Area and People
You can’t discount the value of knowing the people involved in the legal system where your case is being handled. Understanding the culture of the area and how people view the crime you’re accused of can go a long way in preparing your defense. Additionally, lawyers have relationships with the people in the court system and these relationships can be beneficial to your case. For example, if your attorney has a solid relationship with the prosecutor, you may be able to get a more favorable plea bargain than if there was no relationship at all.
They Have Resources to Assist Your Defense
Lawyers also have access to an extensive network of professionals who can help your case. They might need a private investigator to find witnesses or evidence that would prove your innocence or they could require the services of an accident constructionist to show the court what really happened in a car accident. It’s unlikely that you would be able to find the best experts to assist your defense on your own, and even if you could, you probably wouldn’t be able to afford them separately. But by hiring an attorney, you will have access to them as your lawyer deems necessary.
Conclusion
Yes, a criminal defense attorney can be expensive, but when it comes to your future, hiring the best lawyer you can is important. It could be the difference between spending years behind bars or going free. When you think of it in those terms, it could actually be more expensive not to hire a criminal defense attorney and take your chances.