10 Reasons to Hire a Criminal Lawyer Near Me

If you are facing a criminal charge, its imperative to hire a criminal lawyer immediately. Truthfully, a criminal lawyer may be the only thing standing between you and a jail sentence. So, here are some of the top reasons to hire a criminal lawyer near me.

Time Sensitive

Time is not on your side. If you have been charged with a crime you must act fast. Waiting to hire an attorney can mean the case against you becomes worse. Prosecutors will waste no time compiling evidence to use against you. So, your best chance of negotiating to reduce or eliminate the charge hinges on acting as quickly as possible.

Gaining Evidence in Your Favor

Alternatively, hiring an attorney immediately means you have a skilled attorney working to gain evidence to support your case. This can include physical evidence, as well as witness statements so it is imperative that you act quickly.

Professional Approach

Indeed, a criminal charge is a serious thing. For this reason, it should be handled by professionals. A professional approach by a criminal attorney near me can greatly help your case. These attorneys have the knowledge, experience, and understanding to negotiate or litigate on your behalf.

Criminal Law

Criminal laws are complex, to say the least. The state and federal statutes are complicated and nearly impossible to navigate without an experienced criminal lawyer.

Know Your Options

Another reason to hire a criminal attorney near me is that it helps you understand your legal options. Knowing your options is important and an attorney can help you understand them and advise you on the next steps.

Emotional Support

Having the reassurance of a criminal lawyer is important. Experiencing a criminal charge is a high-pressure situation that can have daunting effects on your mental health. However, your defense lawyer offers vital support during this crisis.

Never Speak Without Your Attorney

If the police, prosecutors, or investigators want to question you about a criminal charge, you should never answer questions without your attorney present. Your criminal defense attorney will advise you on how to answer these questions. This avoids you accidentally answering in a way that can hurt your case. The police may ask questions that try to trick you into admitting you committed a crime.

It is your legal right to have an attorney present when you are questioned. This is not an admission of guilt, but a protection of your rights.

Protecting Your Rights

An experienced criminal lawyer near me can help you determine if your constitutional rights were violated by arresting officers. For instance, if authorities don’t have a proper warrant to search your home or belongings, they may have lacked probable cause to conduct the search.

Your criminal defense lawyer may be able to challenge the search and have any evidence recovered suppressed, meaning it can’t be used against you in court.

Plea Bargains

Many times, cases are resolved before going to trial, simply by having a defense attorney negotiate a plea bargain. This deal, or agreement, means that you plead guilty, but only to a lesser charge, or only with the understanding that your punishment will reduce as a result.

Many cases are resolved by plea bargains to reduce the time and expense of trials. These agreements are negotiated between your criminal defense lawyer and the prosecutors. This is yet another reason to have a professional on your case.

Financially Smart

Criminal penalties are expensive. Along with possible jail time, punishments can include hefty fines. Combined with the expenses of bail, court costs and other fees, you may be facing many thousands of dollars. Contrary to popular belief, hiring a criminal lawyer near me may be much more affordable than the costs of being convicted.