By the very nature of the types of cases that misdemeanors are, they are the most common type of criminal charges that are filed. These include DUI, battery, public intoxication, theft, shoplifting and possession of marijuana, among others. We are often asked do I need to hire an attorney for my misdemeanor and here are 5 reasons why you most likely would want to hire an attorney when facing a misdemeanor criminal charge.
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- Going to court on a misdemeanor criminal case can be intimidating. For many people being charged with a misdemeanor it is many times their very fist time being involved in the court process. The process can be very intimidating. From possibly posting a bond, to attending an initial hearing, to dealing with discovery and the prosecutor, going to court can be a scary proposition. Hiring a criminal defense attorney will mean you have someone with you in court that knows what is going on and how to help you through attending court hearings.
- Misdemeanors can carry lots of serious penalties. While generally speaking misdemeanors are less serous offenses depending on the charge there is the possibility of jail time, losing your drivers license, being placed on probation and possibly even losing your right to possess a firearm. If you have an attorney advising you and working on your side many of the most serious consequences can be totally avoided.
- If you get convicted of a misdemeanor you are creating a criminal history. Every misdemeanor, if it ends in a conviction, now means you are carrying with you criminal history. These convictions can affect your ability to find a job and even to be able to rent an apartment. Having a criminal defense attorney on your side may be able to help you avoid a conviction at all, keep your record clean.
- Properly understanding the law and your defenses. In every case there are laws and defenses that may benefit you depending on how the facts in your case occurred. Anytime an arrest starts with a traffic stop for example, there must be a constitutional proper basis to stop the car and even more so search it. If you have a trained criminal defense lawyer working for you they can evaluate your case and help you find areas of legal issues that very well may have a significant outcome on how your case is resolved.
- Properly resolving a criminal misdemeanor takes good negotiation skills. Hiring an experienced criminal defense lawyer will mean you will have someone that understands what a good outcome should look like in your case. They will also understand what facts and parts of your background to highlight to the prosecutor to help ensure you get the best possible outcome you can on your case. Being a good negotiator is a skill that best defense attorneys have learned how to perfect.
In conclusion, anytime you are facing a criminal case, even a misdemeanor, having an attorney to guide you through the case, court and the nuances of discovery and negotiation is essential. The risks of representing yourself and having an unintended consequence is just too high. If you or a love one is facing a misdemeanor criminal case call the criminal defense attorneys at Banks & Brower 24 hours a day 7 days a week at 317-870-0019 so we can discuss your case with you and how we can help you through it.
