Criminal Law

Steps That Should Lead You To Hire A Criminal Attorney

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If you are charged with a crime, you have the option to either plead guilty to save time and money, or to hire an attorney and proceed to trial. There are times when it makes sense to plead guilty and take your punishment, and others when it would behoove you to find a criminal attorney to defend you. To figure out which is the best way to go, there are some critical things that you need to consider. Here are some factors that might make you consider hiring an attorney to defend you:

You have been called in for questioning

If there is the possibility that you might be facing criminal charges, then the police might have asked you in for questioning. The police do not have the right to question you if you are suspected of a crime without first offering you counsel. If you say anything to the police, they can – and they absolutely will – use it against you in a court of law. Therefore, before you provide any answers or submit to questioning, it is imperative that you have a criminal lawyer there to guide you through the interview and stop you from saying anything that might end up incriminating you.

You have been formally charged

If you have been formally charged, then you need to find a criminal attorney to review your case. Even if you don’t have the resources to hire an attorney on your own, you must be provided with counsel to go over your case with you. A criminal lawyer will not only help explain the charges that you are facing, but they will also let you know what type of consequences the charges might carry, and if there is any way to negotiate to either get a plea bargain or to plead for your charges to be lessened or dismissed altogether. If you have been officially charged, then you have to seek the counsel of a criminal attorney.

There are constitutional issues in your case

If there are constitutional issues in your criminal case, like you weren’t read your Miranda rights or you were questioned without counsel, then you should get a criminal lawyer involved. Even if you are guilty of the charges against you, there are times when procedures aren’t followed correctly, which can make any evidence collected inadmissible or get your case thrown out altogether. To make sure that your case has been handled according to constitutional law, if you are charged with a crime, it is best to get a criminal attorney involved to review your case.

You aren’t guilty

If you are charged with a crime that you did not commit, then that is one of the biggest reasons to hire an attorney. Even if there is evidence against you that might seem intimidating, you don’t have to plead guilty out of fear. If you didn’t commit a crime, then you should have your day in court. There is no reason to plead guilty if you have not committed a crime just because you fear that you are going to lose. If you hire the right attorney, then your case will be played out, and you will be able to prove that you aren’t guilty.

You have been offered a plea bargain

There are times when a plea bargain is a good deal, and others when it is just an attempt to save time and wrap things up at your expense. The only way to know for sure if taking a plea bargain is a good idea is to have a criminal lawyer look it over and tell you if it is best to take the offer or proceed to trial. There is no sense in taking a plea bargain if it isn’t in your best interests or isn’t a “deal.” The only way to know for sure is to have a criminal lawyer look over your offer, and if necessary, negotiate with the prosecutor to find the best deal that favors you.

If you are charged with a crime, there are times when it is best just to plead guilty and get it over with. But before you sign anything or confess your guilt, it is best to get the counsel of a criminal defense lawyers to make sure you are doing what is in your best interests.

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Deborah Ferguson is a freelance journalist and writer.

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