Finding the Right Criminal Defense Attorney
Criminal defense lawyers at the Timothy Prentiss are usually defending individuals with either a misdemeanor or felony charges. A misdemeanor typically refers to criminal behavior, which is punishable by less than one year in jail. Felonies, on the other hand, are crimes which are punishable by more than a year in jail. Either of these charges can carry a heavy financial burden and having a strong defense attorney can help you avoid jail time and help you reduce your fines.
If you have been accused of a crime, it is important to have an experienced criminal defense attorney to represent you. Because each state has its own laws regarding the severity of its crimes, a skilled criminal defense attorney can help you choose between misdemeanor and felony charges and choose the right ones for your case. Misdemeanors are most often associated with minor crimes, such as breaking a state law or parking under the influence of alcohol. Most of these types of charges can be dropped if the defendant does not have enough evidence to fight their case. Having a strong attorney can make this easier.
There are several things to look for in an attorney to ensure that he is well qualified for your case. One way to do this is to ask friends and family who have had experience with a similar situation for advice on which attorney they would recommend. Another way is to check the website of the American Bar Association or the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. These websites feature reviews from lawyers across the country. The websites also allow potential clients to search for an attorney based on his/her specific location.
Before you contact a criminal defense attorney, it is important to meet with him or her. It is important to discuss the charges against you and your specific situation. If you live in a small town in Michigan and are facing felony charges, the local prosecutors may not be as experienced or knowledgeable about the law as an attorney who has practiced law for many years in a big city. A lawyer who has experience in criminal law should be able to help you find a competent criminal defense lawyer to fight your case. You should discuss how many years of law school training and/or seminars and other training he or she has attended, their success rate in defending cases, and what kinds of cases they generally focus on. Follow this link for more details on this topic.
If you are not sure whether or not you will be able to get a fair trial, you should discuss the pros and cons of plea bargaining with your criminal defense attorney. Many defendants who are facing serious charges have used plea bargaining to try to get a reduced sentence. In a perfect world, this would be the ideal situation. However, since the criminal defense attorneys are paid by the government, they need to make sure that their clients get the best possible deal.
Although not every defendant will ever enter into a plea bargain, it is important to remember that it is a good idea to at least consider it as an option. If you cannot afford to pay the fines and or penalties that go along with criminal charges, you may want to consider trying to negotiate a plea bargain. The plea bargain may allow you to avoid jail time, even if you do not admit to the charges against you. Although your criminal defense attorney may advise against going this route, you should research your local courts' rules about entering a guilty plea. Many states actually require that defendants go to court even if they accept a plea bargain, because they are looking to maintain the integrity of the legal system. This post: https://www.britannica.com/topic/lawyer will help you understand the topic even better.
