There is an old adage that says a person who defends themselves has a fool for a client. This is often true, especially in criminal cases. If a person is arrested for a crime, whether they are guilty or not, they should hire a lawyer who handles criminal defense in Auburn. There are a few things that a lawyer can do that the individual may not be able to do on their own.
Assistance at the Bail Hearing
When a person is arrested, they will go before a judge or a bail commissioner to have their bail set. The amount of the bail is at the judge’s discretion. Most judges set bail based on the individual’s criminal record and the severity of the crime that they committed. If the individual wants to get out of jail on the lowest amount of bail possible, they should have a lawyer by their side.
Realistic Evaluation of the Case
If a person doesn’t have much knowledge of criminal law, they may not know how much trouble they are in when they are arrested. A criminal defense lawyer would be able to look at the evidence collected by the police and listen to the individual’s side of the story. This will allow the lawyer to give the person an idea of the amount of trouble they are in and also how they should proceed.
Plea Bargains
If a person is guilty of the crime that they are arrested for, their best chance of getting a lighter sentence is to enter into a plea deal. This is a deal made between the individual’s criminal lawyer and the prosecutor. In exchange for the individual agreeing to plead guilty to the crime, they will get a reduced sentence. A person with no knowledge of the law won’t be able to make the deal because they won’t know what is fair and what isn’t. A criminal defense lawyer can assist in making the best deal possible.
Assistance During the Trial
If a person is innocent and they want to go to trial, they should have a lawyer. They will need someone with great knowledge of the law to prepare the strongest case possible and then present it to the court.
If a person is arrested, whether they are innocent or guilty, they should hire a lawyer who handles criminal defense in Auburn. For more information, contact Yoder & Kraus. Like us on Facebook.
