If you find yourself facing criminal charges, such as misdemeanors or felonies, a criminal defense attorney is your best resort. They will defend your rights both in and out of the courtroom, and can work to protect you against serious penalties that could affect your future. Having the right defense attorney on your side can mean the difference between jail time and losing your career or being able to maintain your family life.
While television shows and movies make it seem like criminal defense attorneys spend a lot of their time in court arguing passionately for their clients, this is actually a very small part of the job. In reality, they spend a lot of their time preparing legal defenses and working behind the scenes on your case.
They also work closely with prosecutors to determine whether there is a plea bargain available and how much it may be worth. They help their clients understand the legal process and what they can expect from it, including potential consequences such as prison time or having a criminal record that can negatively impact their future employment prospects and relationships.
A criminal defense attorney also knows the ins and outs of the United States Constitution, particularly the Fourth Amendment that protects against unlawful searches and seizures and the Fifth that enshrines a defendant’s right to remain silent. They can provide guidance to their clients on what they should say and do if approached by law enforcement or other individuals investigating the case, and help them formulate a strong strategy for trial.
It is crucial to have a lawyer at your side during this process because often times, people are arrested and charged without having ever even spoken with a lawyer beforehand. This can leave them vulnerable to making what seems to be a harmless statement to law enforcement that can come back to haunt them at the time of trial or when they are trying to get a plea deal.
One of the biggest responsibilities that criminal defense attorneys have is to review all evidence in the case, and conduct independent investigations of their own if necessary to ensure that their client’s rights are not violated. This includes hiring expert witnesses and conducting their own tests on the evidence, such as having it tested by an independent lab to avoid any allegations of tampering or misconduct.
Regardless of the outcome of the case, criminal defense attorneys are dedicated to helping their clients achieve the highest quality of life possible after their conviction. They ensure that innocent clients don’t end up in jail for crimes they didn’t commit and that guilty clients receive penalties that are fair and reasonable.
If you have any questions about your criminal charges, do not hesitate to contact the Saland Law Firm in New York City. We are here to assist you in navigating this difficult process, and we will fight for your legal rights every step of the way.