If you have been arrested and accused of a crime, do not make the mistake of thinking you can handle your own defense. It is easy to underestimate what is involved in a criminal trial when you've never been in one before. A criminal defense lawyer can be the best way to prove that you are innocent and clear you of all charges. Here are three ways they could help you.
Assist With Pre-Trial Procedures
When you hire a defense lawyer, there is much more work involved than just showing up the day of your trial and trying to defend you. They help you through the entire process, which includes all the work that needs to be done before you go to trial.
For instance, a defense lawyer can help convince a judge that the police do not have proper evidence to take your case to trial. This can cause the entire case to be thrown out, since the judge decides that the prosecution doesn't have a valid case. A defense lawyer can also help prove how the police didn't have any probable cause to arrest you in the first place. These are valid reasons to throw out a court case and save you from going to a trial.
Negotiate Your Bail
When arrested, the standard procedure is to be held in jail until your court date. Thankfully, it is possible to be released from jail in exchange for posting bail. This is the amount of money that a judge will hold on to in exchange for your release from jail. When you show up for your day in court, the money will be returned to you.
If your bail amount is too expensive, you have a couple options. While you can get bail money from a local bondsman, it will cost you a fee in order to borrow the money. You can also have your defense lawyer help negotiate the bail amount so that it is lower and more affordable. This will allow you to get out of jail without having to pay additional fees for a bail bond.
Negotiate Your Plea Bargain
In situations where you are guilty of the crime you are accused of, a defense lawyer can still help you out by having your punishment lowered by pleading guilty to the crime and avoiding an unnecessary court case. The lawyer will know what plea bargain you could receive based on previous cases they have worked on that are similar to yours.