The aftermath of being arrested for, charged with, or convicted of a crime is overwhelming and frightening. The criminal justice system can be confusing, frustrating, and frightening for those who find themselves in that situation. You can hire a attorney for criminal defense torrance, ca to help you through this difficult time. A criminal defense attorney is an advocate who specializes in criminal law and will work directly with you to defend your interests and rights as a defendant during legal proceedings. These professionals can help you explore your options between accepting a plea deal or going to trial. They will also handle any negotiations with the prosecution on your behalf, as well as perform other tasks related to defending you against the criminal charges brought against you by the state or federal government. Read on to learn more about the benefits of hiring a criminal defense attorney such as The Powell Law Firm if you’re facing criminal charges:
Protection Against Abuse of Prosecutorial Discretion
One of the most common benefits of hiring a criminal defense attorney is the ability to protect against abuse of prosecutorial discretion. Prosecution discretion refers to the state’s ability to decide whether or not to bring criminal charges against an individual. This discretion is given to law enforcement and the state’s Attorney General or District Attorney’s office. However, these individuals can abuse their power and discretion by bringing charges against someone who did not intend to break the law or who committed a minor crime that would normally not be prosecuted. This abuse can happen in a number of ways, such as law enforcement bringing charges against someone to help their statistics, to create revenue for the state, or because they have a grudge against the individual. The hiring of a criminal defense attorney can help protect against this abuse of discretion because the attorney will be working directly with the person charged with the crime. The attorney can negotiate a resolution with the prosecution in which the charges are dropped against the defendant.
Defense Against Incidental Crimes and Other Mistakes
Another reason to hire a criminal defense attorney is to defend against incidental crimes and other mistakes. Incidental crimes are related crimes for which an individual would not normally be charged. Other mistakes refer to errors that were made by law enforcement and the prosecution during the investigation and prosecution of the case. For example, say you are charged with murder, but there is no evidence connecting you to the murder, and you have an alibi. The prosecution has charged you with murder because they believe you committed the crime, but there is no evidence proving your guilt. Or maybe law enforcement was mistaken about where you were or what you were doing when the murder occurred, which would be considered an incidental crime. In either of these situations, hiring a criminal defense attorney can help defend against these mistakes and charges that don’t apply to the person being charged. The attorney will look at the evidence and then negotiate with law enforcement and the prosecution to get these charges dropped against the defendant.
Preservation of Rights and Reputation
Another major benefit of hiring a criminal defense attorney is the preservation of your rights and reputation. When you are charged with a crime, you may lose certain rights, such as the right to vote or hold public office. You may also lose the right to possess firearms and other types of property. The attorney will work with you to ensure that you do not lose any of your rights as an American citizen or have your reputation completely tarnished by the charge. One example of this would be if you are charged with a sex crime and there is no DNA evidence or other evidence linking you to the crime. The criminal defense attorney can negotiate on your behalf to have the charges dismissed against you because there is no evidence that you committed the crime. This type of dismissal does not tarnish your reputation, and your rights are preserved.
