Misdemeanor charges are criminal charges that can be punished by less than a year in jail. These are the least serious charges, which often leads defendants to believe they don’t really need a Criminal Law Attorney to help them. Unfortunately, if the person doesn’t have a lawyer, the chances are incredibly high they will be convicted and face serious consequences for the crime they’re accused of committing.
Deciding What to Plea
In most cases, it’s better to plead not guilty. This provides the chance to form a defense and fight the charges. In some cases, it might be better to plead guilty and work to minimize the penalties. Speaking with a lawyer gives the person the chance to determine the right plea. If they go ahead and pleads guilty before hiring a lawyer, they might not have the opportunity to change their plea and fight the charges.
Determining if a Plea Deal is Acceptable
A plea deal may be offered by the prosecution. A lawyer is necessary to determine if the plea deal is a good deal or if they should either request a better deal or take the case to trial. If a plea deal isn’t offered, the lawyer might be able to convince the prosecution to offer one. Plea deals often mean the person does plead guilty to a lesser offense in exchange for minimizing the potential sentence.
Minimizing Potential Sentence
If the person is convicted of a misdemeanor, they face up to a year in jail along with other penalties such as fines or community service. Their lawyer may be able to convince the judge to offer minimal penalties to reduce the person’s sentence and minimize the impact the conviction might have on their life now and in the future.
If you’ve been arrested and charged with a crime, even if it’s a misdemeanor, make sure you get the help and advice of a Criminal Law Attorney right away. They can help try to have the charges dismissed or minimize the penalties you might be facing. Visit the website for. today to learn more about the benefits of hiring a lawyer and to make sure you get the help you need. This could make a huge difference in the outcome of your case. You can also follow them on Twitter for latest news and update!
