Criminal offenses are generally divided into two categories: misdemeanors and felonies. The former is generally less severe than the latter and is generally met with lighter sentencing and legal consequences as a result. Getting charged with misdemeanor DUI or theft is always serious, but with exception to the most extreme circumstances, it generally isn’t as bad as a felony rape or murder charge.
That begs the question: is it even worth investing in legal counsel to help you defend a misdemeanor charge? Since the charge is typically less dire, couldn’t you just represent yourself under lower pressure? You
If you wanted to, but in the large majority of cases, it’s not a wise course of action. You should still seek proper counsel from a Fargo criminal defense lawyer, even if you’re dealing with a lighter misdemeanor case, and below are only a few of many reasons why.
Should I Get A Lawyer For Misdemeanor Charges? || Hogan Eickhoff
You should not take the hit for a crime you did not commit, even if it is a misdemeanor charge. Remember the first and most basic universal norm of our legal system – you are innocent until proven guilty. While fighting the criminal justice system seems like an insurmountable task, you can fight for your innocence with the help of the right defense lawyer.
Even if you believe there is no point in fighting charges for an offense you committed, your attorney can identify possible ways to defend against your charges. The prosecutor might not have enough evidence to prove your charges beyond a reasonable doubt. The police might have violated your rights. All of this can help to get your charges dropped, even if you thought a conviction was inevitable.
You also should not face overly harsh penalties for a conviction. By pleading guilty from the outset with no counsel to help you, you open yourself up to facing the harshest possible penalties for the crime you’re charged with. Prosecutors often do not offer plea bargains to unrepresented defendants. When you have an experienced criminal defense attorney on your side, they can help scale down, mitigate, or drop the charges and/or penalties altogether.
Dupage County Criminal Defense Lawyer
Even “lighter” misdemeanors can still be met with serious, draconian punishments that greatly impact your life. Under North Dakota law, a Class A misdemeanor can be punishable with a maximum $3, 000 fine and 360 days of jail time. That’s almost an entire year of your freedom that could be lost, and even having one offense on your criminal record could still impact your freedom in the years following.
Where you live, where you work, and where you go to school could all be greatly limited by a misdemeanor conviction. With stakes this high, you’ll want to exhaust all options to ensure that your charges are dismissed or at least reduced, and the best option for that is an experienced legal professional.
Under the Sixth Amendment, you have the right to an attorney. If you can’t afford a lawyer, the state will provide one to you, should you choose to accept it. The Constitution provides defendants with this right to legal counsel for good reason – because the right legal guidance can greatly improve the outcome of your case and ensure your rights are protected.
Stages Of A Criminal Case
That’s why if you live in Fargo or the Greater Midwest, you’ll want to count on us to fight your misdemeanor charge. They have the experience, expertise, and criminal defense criteria necessary to assert your innocence and freedom. To learn more and schedule a free initial consultation, email Tatum O’Brien directly or give the O’Keeffe O’Brien Lyson Attorneys team a call at 701-235-8000 or 877-235-8002 toll-free.If you or a loved one are charged with a misdemeanor crime or are under investigation, it is important to protect yourself and consult an experienced misdemeanor defense lawyer as early as possible in the process. What may seem like a minor misdemeanor offense can trigger consequences that affect you and your family for life.
At Chudnovsky Law, our criminal defense attorneys use their 65+ years of experience to skillfully defend you in criminal courts. Our misdemeanor lawyer defends clients throughout all Los Angeles and Orange County courts. We know what you are facing and work tirelessly to obtain the best possible outcome for you.
The legal definition of misdemeanor is a crime punishable by a fine and/or a county jail sentence of up to 1 year. The California Penal Code defines hundreds of misdemeanors, and many “wobbler” crimes that can be prosecuted as an infraction, misdemeanor or felony depending on the case, aggravating factors and prior criminal record.Even though misdemeanor charges are less serious than felony charges, they still involve fines, strict probation, a criminal record and even jail time. Misdemeanor convictions can cause loss of professional licenses, job opportunities, immigration rights and other collateral consequences.
Top Seven Reasons To Hire An Attorney For A Misdemeanor
Chudnovsky Law’s misdemeanor and felony defense attorneys vigorously defend you no matter what charge you’re facing. Defending a criminal case requires a careful analysis of the evidence, the DA’s case and all available criminal defense strategies. Our Los Angeles misdemeanor lawyer has experience handling every type of case, including:
While our Orange County misdemeanor attorneys are successful trial lawyers, we understand the primary goal is to obtain the best possible case outcome. That can be achieved via: (1) DA dismissal, (2) a carefully negotiated plea deal, or (3) winning acquittal in a court trial. Every case is different and we use the best strategy for yours.
Wobbler offenses are crimes that District Attorneys have discretion whether to file as a misdemeanor or felony based on the defendant’s criminal record and case circumstances. There are also “wobblette” offenses that can be filed as a misdemeanor or infraction.
Reasons Why Reducing A Felony Conviction To A Misdemeanor Is Worth The Expense
Under U.S. law, defendants are innocent until a prosecutor proves several crime elements beyond a reasonable doubt. Criminal charges have the most strict burden of proof of any legal proceedings. In order to convict you, the District Attorney must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that:
The best criminal defense strategies focus on exposing doubts or legal flaws in any of the key facts or criminal intent that a prosecutor must prove. The types of defense strategies used by Long Beach criminal attorneys vary between criminal and DUI charges.
Interacting with the criminal justice system can be very stressful and fraught with risks that affect your life, your future and your family. The police and District Attorneys have tremendous resources and can be very intimidating. Once you are caught up in the system, law enforcement is not on your side and one mistake can cost you dearly.
Do I Need A Lawyer To Represent Me In Court?
If you are facing charges, it is crucial to consult a Los Angeles misdemeanor lawyer for guidance and representation. There are many ways criminal defense lawyers help you. They are trained to analyze a case for errors, weaknesses, and defense strategies to use to argue for a case dismissal, reduction of charges, or getting a case rejected by the DA.
Don’t get lulled into a “it’s just a misdemeanor” mindset. A criminal conviction for a misdemeanor charge can trigger a jail sentence, fines, strict probation terms and leave you with a criminal record that follows you for life. Criminal convictions show up on background checks and can affect professional licenses, immigration rights, family rights, voting rights, gun rights and career opportunities.
Because of the collateral consequences of criminal convictions, your best course of action is usually to fight misdemeanor charges. Without representation by an experienced, trustworthy criminal defense lawyer, it is nearly impossible for a defendant to prevent conviction or persuade the judge to reduce the sentence. The criminal justice system is complex with opaque rules and many potential traps.
Do I Need An Attorney For A Misdemeanor?
A lawyer can also help with expungement of criminal records and obtaining other relief such as a pardon. Expunging a criminal record can help with employment and background checks and gaining back rights you may have lost because of conviction.
Call us at (844) 325-1444 for a free consultation to learn more about your case and how we help protect your rights.
There are many consequences to having misdemeanor and felony convictions on your record. However, in California many types of criminal convictions are eligible for dismissal, or “expungement” under 1203.4 pc at the end of probation. You just need to have your criminal defense attorney petition the court.
Do I Need A Criminal Defense Lawyer For Misdemeanor Charges In Arizona?
Once a judge grants misdemeanor expungement, your criminal record will be clean and you will be released from virtually “all penalties and disabilities” arising from the conviction. You will no longer need to disclose the criminal conviction to potential employers and those checking your background.
Criminal convictions and simply being arrested can cause serious issues for non-US citizens. Some offenses can affect immigration status, visa eligibility, trigger visa revocation and even deportation proceedings. For example:
Noncitizens facing criminal charges need an attorney with expertise in both immigration and criminal law. Tsion Chudnovsky is a criminal immigration lawyer with extensive experience defending noncitizens from every type of criminal allegation.
Do I Have To Appear In Court Or Can My Attorney Appear For Me?
Chudnovsky Law is a team of accomplished criminal defense attorneys known and respected by prosecutors and judges as honest, tenacious advocates for clients. The firm’s three senior attorneys have a combined 65+ years experience guiding clients through some of life’s most challenging situations.
Chudnovsky Law lawyers are ranked
0 comments
Post a Comment