When you’re facing criminal charges of any kind, you might be wondering what the outcome of your case will be in terms of your punishment. It’s a pretty nerve-wracking position to be in when you don’t know what your fate will be.
If you’ve been told what the maximum penalty is for your crime, you’re probably hoping you won’t get the full punishment. However, if you’re determined to defend yourself in court, there’s a chance you will get the maximum allowable penalty. If you hire an attorney, on the other hand, you have a better chance of getting reduced charges.
Reducing your charges requires attorney experience
If you’re facing criminal charges that don’t seem too serious, you may be shocked when you find out your crime can be punishable with jail time and not just a fine. Nobody wants to spend any amount of time in jail, but it’s possible and even likely when you represent yourself. If you want the opportunity to have your charges reduced, you really need the legal expertise of a skilled criminal defense attorney.
To get your charges reduced without representation, you’ll need to be the one with legal expertise because it’s not a simple process. Your only other option is to forget about trying to get a lighter sentence and hoping the judge goes easy on you.
Fighting for reduced charges is not something you want to skip because the maximum penalty for some crimes can be steep, even for a misdemeanor. For example, in Tennessee, Class A misdemeanors carry a penalty of up to eleven months and twenty-nine days in jail and a $2,500 fine. These misdemeanors include:
· Assault
· Domestic violence
· Drug paraphernalia possession
· DUI
· Theft
· Restraining order violations
· Stalking
If you’re facing any of these charges (or any other Class A misdemeanor) in TN or a state with similar laws, a conviction can land you in jail for several days short of a full year (or more in other states). Your best chance at getting a shorter sentence is having an attorney.
Reducing charges requires extensive knowledge of the law
One of the ways attorneys get reduced charges and lighter sentences for their clients is through a deep knowledge of the law. If the law wasn’t followed, your charges sometimes have to be dropped, even when you’re technically guilty.
For example, say you’re facing DUI charges and you failed all field sobriety tests and a breathalyzer. It looks pretty grim, but that may not be the case. For instance, if the police officer who arrested you didn’t do everything by the book, or didn’t have a valid reason to pull you over in the first place, there’s a good chance your charges might be dropped completely.
In this situation, if you represent yourself, you’ll need to know the law in order to demonstrate how it was broken and why that means your charges should be dropped. It’s not the judge’s job to extract information from you to prove the arresting officer broke the law during your traffic stop. The prosecution has the burden of proving you’re guilty, but you’re the only one who can present evidence of an illegitimate traffic stop or improper procedures. If you’re not a criminal defense attorney, that’s going to be nearly impossible.
If you don’t know the law, don’t know proper procedure, and don’t know how to make your case in court, you’ll struggle to achieve the same favorable outcome a lawyer could help you get.
A criminal defense attorney can negotiate a plea deal
Most cases never make it to trial because both parties don’t want to risk an unpredictable jury outcome and end up agreeing to a plea deal. A plea deal is an opportunity to get your charges either dismissed or reduced. Usually what happens is you’ll plead guilty to a lesser charge and the original, more severe charge is dropped. You won’t be able to negotiate successfully on your own – you need an attorney.
Judges don’t like pro se litigants
Last, but not least, you don’t want to have a hearing or go to trial as a self-represented defendant. Although they’re required to treat you with respect, judges don’t like people who represent themselves because they hold up the courtroom proceedings due to ignorance. You’re virtually guaranteed to miss deadlines, file paperwork incorrectly, and mess up filing important motions (if you even know what to file). While it’s your legal right to defend yourself, it’s a bad decision.
Get the best case outcome with a lawyer
If you’re facing criminal charges, make sure you hire a skilled criminal defense attorney to represent you in court. It’s the only way to ensure the optimal outcome for your case.
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