Getting accused of a crime is a bad experience that can compromise your future. The most typical reaction is feeling hopeless, without a small chance of redemption. But your life isn’t over, you still have a chance to make things right.
If you’re going to court as the accused, you have to hire a criminal defense lawyer as soon as possible. You have zero chances of beating these charges on your own, and trying to defend yourself will end up causing even more troubles. Even if you are just under investigation, the United States constitution grants you the right to have legal counsel.
Before you make a statement or answer a question, you should always exercise your right to consult with an attorney. He knows how to handle this situation and will do his best to explain what happens when you’re convicted. A conviction will become a part of your public and criminal record, which can seriously impact your chances of finding a job, as you have to disclose this information in your applications. It will also affect your ability to get a loan, a passport, and you may not be able to vote or own a firearm in some states.
Penalties can be severe and some crimes will also make you lose custody of your children. That’s why you should never underestimate your charges. By examining the evidence and getting a clear picture of your case, an experienced defense attorney will be able to negotiate a plea bargain, and if your rights were violated in any way, he might also be able to have the charges dismissed.
Choosing the Right Person to Be on Your Side
Hiring a defense lawyer is primarily done because you want to face your charges without ruining the rest of your life, but the importance of having the right person on your side shouldn’t be overlooked. A lot of people get courtroom anxiety, especially if they need to fight serious charges, and what they say might be seen as a lie simply because they’re too agitated to think rationally.
A lawyer will do most of the dirty work when it comes to examining your charges and will speak for you every time he’s allowed to. Looking for all the legal intricacies that will allow you to avoid jail is the perfect job for him, and you will feel much safer during the entire process. Whether you’re facing misdemeanor or felony charges, you need to hire a lawyer that truly cares about what happens to you.
Felony or Misdemeanor?
Anytime something bad happens, we see these terms everywhere. And if you type these words in a search engine, you’ll notice that everyone fails to explain them properly to the average person who’s not a lawyer and hasn’t studied the legal system for their entire life. A misdemeanor is classified as a crime, but a less serious one when compared to a felony.
You can end up in your local jail for less than one year when accused of one, and you may also be eligible for misdemeanor expungement in the future so it won’t be present on your record. A felony is the most serious type of crime, and you might be transferred to a high-security prison if you’re found guilty. It also brings a lot of consequences for your future, and if you’ve been convicted of a serious offense like a sex crime, you may carry the stigma of it for your entire life, especially if you had to register as a sex offender, as you’ll have lifelong repercussions. A
t the end of the day, it doesn’t matter if you’re facing one or the other, you need a lawyer to defend yourself properly. Your future is at stake, and you need to be smart about it.