If you are facing criminal charges, you may be confused and even scared about what comes next. The criminal justice system can be intimidating and, depending on your knowledge of the law, it can seem like an impenetrable maze of rules and bad consequences.
In 2011 alone, there were over 12 million arrests made in the U.S. While not all of those arrests lead to formal charges being brought, a great many do. If you have been charged with a crime, where do you go from here?
Find a Good Criminal Defense Attorney Can Help with Pending Criminal Charges
If you have been charged with a criminal offense, the last thing you want to do is fight it alone. Even if you know you are guilty and plan on taking a plea, you will need someone with experience advising you. But finding a good criminal defense attorney is not always easy.
You need someone who not only has experience in criminal law – which is vitally important if you hope to successfully navigate the ins and outs and loopholes of your particular charge – but also someone who is familiar with the courthouse your case will be heard in. They should know the judges, lawyers and other court personnel that work there every day. Knowing the judges can tell a lawyer a lot about what they will be facing in a courtroom. The same goes for knowing other attorneys that frequent that courthouse, especially the prosecutors. A good defense attorney will know what kind of pleas the attorney prosecuting your case usually goes for, including whether or not that prosecutor is known for making deals at all.
An experienced defense attorney who knows the prosecutors that frequent the courthouse your case is in will also know how those prosecutors act in a trial situation and what their weaknesses are. This knowledge can give your attorney – and therefore you – an upper hand in your case, or at least it can give you a better idea of what your chances are of being acquitted.
Find an Attorney You Feel Will Fight for You
Experience is very important when choosing an attorney, but so is finding someone you feel comfortable with and who you feel will fight for you. When they tell you something they are going to do, you need to believe them. When they give you their assessment of your chances of beating your charge(s), you need to feel like they are being straightforward with you.
You want an attorney who is upfront, charismatic, knowledgeable and who seems like they can be persuasive in front of a judge and jury.
Make a Decision
Finding a good attorney is critical as they will be the one advising you on whether or not you should fight the criminal charges you’re facing. If your knowledge of the law and courts is limited, as it is for most people who are not lawyers, judges, or other court employees, you will be relying heavily on their thoughts on how you should proceed.
If you have been charged with a crime in Florida, contact the experienced criminal law attorneys at Jax Lawyers or call 904-414-4906 for a free consultation.
Additional Reading:
What constitutes a personal injury?
The most common personal injury is an auto accident, but the broad definition encompasses any situation where a person suffers harm due to the negligence of another person or entity. Early identification of a personal injury is important to the legal process. Many serious injuries occur each year involving:
– Auto accidents
– Premises liability accidents such as injuries caused by a slip and fall
– Medical malpractice/nursing home injuries
– Wrongful death
– Work-related accidents
– Animal attacks
– Faulty or malfunctioning products (product liability)