Many people facing criminal charges aren’t sure if it’s worth it to hire a criminal attorney. After all, they may be found guilty either way. Plus, couldn’t a public defender do the same job?
Not quite.
Below you will find three reasons why it’s important to hire a criminal defense attorney as soon as you have been charged with a crime.
Of course, there is no substitution for individualized advice, so please contact The Law Office of Lisa Pelosi if you would like to speak with an experienced attorney who will hear your side of the story and fight aggressively to protect your rights.
Navigating the Legal Process
Few people have time to become well-versed in criminal law before they’re sentenced. It takes years of training to know what to look for when evaluating a case. While public defenders can spot procedural errors and other factors that affect the outcome of your case, they are often so heavily burdened with cases that small details fall through the cracks. You need a dedicated defense attorney who can look at every aspect of your case under a microscope.
For instance, you may not know whether the police illegally searched your vehicle and obtained inadmissible evidence, or if your rights were violated in some other way. The best criminal attorneys go through every detail of the case to ensure that their clients are treated fairly throughout the entire process.
Your Story Is Told
Nobody knows your story better than you, but that doesn’t mean that you’ll be able to tell it in a way that convinces the court that you’re innocent.
In fact, many judges and juries start out biased against the accused just because they’ve been charged with a crime. Without an experienced attorney who has dealt with cases like yours and knows how to tell the defendant’s side of the story, you could find yourself facing an avoidable conviction. Hiring an experienced criminal defense attorney allows you to have your story in a way that’s compelling and, more importantly, protects you against saying something that could ultimately hurt your chances of a favorable outcome.
Pleas and Sentencing
In some situations, it may not be possible to have your charges dismissed. However, that doesn’t mean that your situation is hopeless. Your defense attorney may be able to work with the prosecutor to develop a plea bargain, which could lessen some of your charges or reduce a sentence. As a former prosecutor herself, Lisa Pelosi knows what to look for when helping her clients negotiate bargains that are in their best interests.
In situations in which you will likely be sentenced, a criminal defense attorney can still work to have the sentence reduced or negotiate an arrangement that involves alternatives to incarceration, such as drug abuse rehabilitation.
Contact an Experienced New York Criminal Defense Attorney
We hope that today’s post has helped you to understand the importance of expert representation if you are facing criminal charges. Please see the rest of our blog posts for even more information about criminal law.
If you need to speak to a criminal defense attorney in New York, contact Lisa Pelosi for a risk-free consultation. With more than 30 years of experience behind her name, Lisa will work tirelessly to help you protect your future.
