The threat of criminal conviction can leave you on edge, unsure of what your future will look like. Even seemingly minor criminal offenses can leave you facing significant penalties, including jail or prison time, fines, and a criminal record that can affect everything from your employment to your housing and education.
With so much at stake, it’s in your best interests to aggressively defend yourself. But if you’re like a lot of people in the Honolulu area, then you don’t really know how to go about doing that. Yet, resolving your criminal case may seem simple enough, especially when prosecutors start to offer you plea deals.
Why you might want a criminal defense attorney on your side
A lot of people who face criminal charges wonder if they really need a criminal defense attorney representing them. And even those who think that they do wonder if they can get by with a public defender representing them. Before you make any rash decisions, though, you’ll want to consider these top reasons to secure assistance from a private criminal defense attorney:
- They’ll protect your rights: You have a lot of rights when you’re in the midst of a criminal investigation. You have the right to remain silent, the right to an attorney, and the right to a fair and speedy trial. You also shouldn’t be convicted on evidence that was gathered in violation of your Constitutional rights. Even though you have these rights, though, the burden is going to rest with you to ensure that they’re fully protected. Therefore, if you don’t know how to argue for your rights, then the police and the prosecution might violate them, thereby leading to conviction.
- They’ll know your likelihood of success: In order to make the criminal defense decisions that are right for you, you have to know how good of a chance you have at winning at trial. An attorney who is experienced in criminal defense will be able to analyze the facts of your case and give you a realistic assessment of how your case will play out at trial. This will give you a better idea of how you need to approach your case to protect your interests as fully as possible.
- They’ll know how to negotiate with prosecutors: If there’s some risk with going to trial, and there almost always is, then you’ll want to be able to work with prosecutors in order to obtain the best plea deal possible under the circumstances. An attorney who is experienced in criminal defense will know how to push back against prosecutors and cause them to doubt certain key aspects of their case.
- They’ll give you a realistic sense of what’s at stake: A lot of criminal convictions have a range of severity when it comes to the implementation of penalties. But an attorney who is experienced in criminal defense can give you a sense of what the penalties will look like if you’re convicted under your circumstances. This will give you a better idea of what you’re up against so that you know how best to try to resolve your case.
Are you ready to develop your criminal defense strategy?
Given the stakes involved in your case, you need to do everything you can to protect yourself from overzealous prosecutors and the penalties that they’re threatening against you. That’s why if you’re being investigated or you’ve already been charged with a criminal offense, then now is the time to start thinking about what your criminal defense will look like. This very well may include seeking out assistance form an attorney who will know how to zealously advocate on your behalf.