Whenever an individual has been accused of a crime, the best course to take is to hire a criminal attorney Rochester NY. The consequences of the accusation might involve jail time so the stakes are relatively high. The benefits of hiring a criminal attorney are manifold and the following are all reasons accused people should opt for a lawyer and not represent themselves.
* Knowledge and experience- Good criminal attorney Rochester NY are well versed in criminal law. Based on their experience, they can evaluate the case and judge whether the accused has a good chance of winning at trial. It is very rare that individuals represent themselves and win, though not impossible. Ordinary people do not have the benefit of having spent years practising the criminal law and that is why they are of value.
* The criminal system- Most laymen do not have a sound comprehension of the criminal system which may perplex them when they are accused of a crime. They may not know who to speak to or where to go which can be confusing. A criminal attorney will guide you through the process and make things clearer which will eliminate the tension. They will also prepare you for the trial and tell you what to expect.
* Assessing the factors of the case- Frequently, cases get thrown out because proper procedure wasn’t followed in collecting the damning evidence against the accused or even during arrest or detention. This means the evidence is invalid because the attorney working the case found a technicality upon which the law disallows it. The law is not straightforward. There are several aspects which laymen will not appreciate while the criminal attorney will have made this their sole business in life.
* Plea bargains- Sometimes the case is such that the accused cannot possibly be let free or found innocent. Thus the lawyers will negotiate deals and reduce sentences. The attorney can get the prosecutor to lessen jail time or any other penalty. Most prosecutors are unwilling to negotiate with laymen representing themselves. Also an attorney is a good way of enforcing deals offered to the defendant.
* Reference past important cases- Criminal lawyers are well versed with the precedents and laws regarding their cases. They can easily find previous case laws to reinforce their case to win. It has been shown to help a defendant’s case before. If they aren’t familiar with a case they can easily research it. Laymen who are representing themselves have neither the resources nor database to undertake the research on precedents to help their case.
While the cost of getting a criminal attorney is off putting, this should not deter you from hiring one. The odds are stacked against people who represent themselves.