Hiring A Criminal Defense Lawyer
There are many potential ways in which one might find themselves needing to defend against criminal charges, and in any of them finding a competent criminal defense lawyer is a requisite. A criminal defense lawyer's entire purpose is to be your advocate and to always act in your best interest. They are there to provide counsel, review evidence, negotiate with the prosecution, and really handle everything else in between. Not all cases end up going to court (i.e., actual litigation); most are either settled or dismissed prior to an actual trial.
Criminal charges tend to fall within three main categories: misdemeanors, felonies, and federal offenses. The first two are usually local, state, or municipal offenses. Misdemeanors are the lesser of the two and carry a maximum potential sentence of one year (or less). Felonies are the more serious offenses and typically carry with them a potential minimum sentence of more than one year (all the way to life sentences, and/or the death penalty). Federal offenses, on the other hand, are violations of federal law and can carry sentences that range all the way from supervised probation (with no actual incarceration) to a life sentence. No matter which category of offense one is facing, a criminal defense lawyer's services are the key to helping to retain one's rights and freedoms throughout the process.
In the criminal court system in the United States of America, a person charged with a crime has the presumption of innocence, no matter the situation. The onus does not fall on a defendant to prove their innocence, but on the state to prove their guilt (beyond a shadow of a doubt). The long-term personal consequences of being found guilty of a felony or a federal offense, beyond the fact one will probably face jail time, are that such a criminal history can limit one's future potential job opportunities. Such convictions in one's history could make working in certain industries or functions an outright impossibility. And even though this might not always be the case with misdemeanor convictions as well, why would one want this in their history if it were avoidable? This is where a criminal defense lawyer's value becomes most apparent.
The cost of a criminal defense lawyer, while certainly a pragmatic concern for many, cannot be underestimated when compared to the potential consequences of not having one when facing a criminal charge. Most work on an hourly basis and typically require some type of upfront retainer for their services (i.e., a down payment). In any case, it's more than worth it, whatever the cost may be. In some cases, an attorney might agree to work on a pro bono basis (a Latin phrase meaning "for [the benefit of] the people") - if so, then there would be no cost for their services. These are the type of questions to ask a criminal defense attorney during the initial consultation regarding one's criminal case. Contact a criminal lawyer to learn more.