No matter the reason, facing criminal charges without legal representation is the worst thing for people to do. After being charged with a criminal offense, a state court criminal defense attorney can navigate the legal process and also avoid costly mistakes. At Dean Price Law, Price has the knowledge and skills to help defend clients and their best interests.
Even though a person might be arrested based on an officer’s subjective judgment, the person is not necessarily charged with the crime. To be formally charged with a crime, the arresting officer will usually need to:
The attorney has the prosecutorial discretion to proceed with the case, deciding whether to prove the person guilty of the offense. If the prosecutor is convinced enough evidence exists, the prosecutor will file a formal criminal charge. This is the moment when the person charged should consult with a criminal defense attorney to avoid a future conviction.
Regardless of one’s faith in the criminal justice system, the practical reality is the difficulty of self-representation throughout the entire process. Since each situation can be different, an experienced attorney who can analyze the merits of each case is important. This can even impact the trial results.
A proper state court criminal defense attorney, if well equipped, can properly prepare including evaluating the case, negotiating plea deals and potentially representing the case at trial.
A state court criminal defense attorney’s responsibilities begin before the courtroom. In fact, the trial is usually the final step, and can sometimes be avoided. To properly evaluate the case, the attorney will investigate all the case details including interviewing witnesses, reading reports of the crime scene and analyzing the crime scene. After reviewing the relevant information, the attorney can correctly determine the prospects of both acquittal and conviction, providing a recommendation to the accused person.
It has become increasingly common for prosecutors to offer plea deals, sometimes immediately after being charged with the crime. In these situations, the prosecutor has most, if not all, of the bargaining power. Prosecutors are incentivized to offer plea deals to save time, money and other resources.
In exchange, the plea deal usually requires the accused person to admit their guilt in exchange for a lesser sentence. Based on the discrepancy in bargaining power, the defense attorney can objectively determine whether accepting the plea bargain is in the accused person’s best interest or can negotiate for more favorable terms that are based on the specific facts of the situation.
In the end, the defendant decides whether to accept any offered plea deal or proceed to trial, based on their own judgment and any input from a defense attorney. In the event the defendant chooses to proceed to trial, a trained state court criminal defense attorney can better decide how to present the information to the courtroom. Once the trial begins, the attorney will best represent the defendant’s interests when presenting evidence in the courtroom, abiding by the specific procedural rules of the courtroom and advocating for the defendant.
Viewed as a whole, the attorney’s role in the defense is indispensable from beginning to end. To respond to the complexities of the criminal justice system, make sure to be equipped with any and all advantages.
Call (417) 865-2181 today to reach Dean Price Law .
NOTE: This is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.
Check out what others are saying about our services on Yelp: Read our Yelp reviews.
A criminal defense attorney is the legal professional to turn to if you have been accused of a crime. The first thing to understand is that the suspect or accused person is the defense attorney’s client; the attorney works for them. As part of due process, the defense attorney is a trusted adviser with whom…
A misdemeanor attorney can defend people charged with minor crimes. The term misdemeanor is used in the United States to broadly refer to crimes carrying a penalty of less than one year in jail. Although it is a minor crime, a misdemeanor is still an arrestable offense, which is why it is important to have…
Asking the right questions is knowing half of the answers, and a traffic offense lawyer is the person to ask if accused of any such offense in Missouri. In the U.S., traffic laws can be different from one state to another. So, asking your Missouri lawyer the right questions is critical in understanding your legal…
A felony law firm defends people charged with serious crimes. Upon making an arrest, police are obliged to inform the person of their Miranda Rights. These include the right to remain silent and the right to an attorney. This means that the arrested person is not obliged to answer any police questions until they have…
A criminal defense attorney is the legal professional to turn to if you have been accused of a crime. The first thing to understand is that the suspect or accused person is the defense attorney’s client; the attorney works for them. As part of due process, the defense attorney is a trusted adviser with whom…
A misdemeanor attorney can defend people charged with minor crimes. The term misdemeanor is used in the United States to broadly refer to crimes carrying a penalty of less than one year in jail. Although it is a minor crime, a misdemeanor is still an arrestable offense, which is why it is important to have…