Criminal charges can result in long-term repercussions for the people accused of breaking the law. Many people facing charges panic and make the mistake of pleading guilty quickly.
They don’t discuss the case with an attorney or look at their options for fighting the charges. Even though they insist that they are not guilty, they enter a guilty plea in the hopes of limiting the penalties that they face or minimizing their costs related to court. Quite a few people may be able to avoid criminal convictions if they have the right support when responding to pending charges.
What are some of the most common and effective responses to pending criminal charges?
Negotiating a plea bargain
Many people who eventually plead guilty do not leave themselves at the mercy of the courts. Instead, they retain an attorney who negotiates with the prosecutor’s office. A criminal defense attorney can negotiate arrangements in which the state reduces the charges brought against a defendant or limits the penalties that the courts may impose. A plea bargain may even entail limiting what information the prosecutor submits to the courts. Plea bargains are often a means of limiting the long-term consequences of criminal charges.
Undermining the state’s case
Depending on the charges that someone faces, there may be many types of evidence used to prove that they broke the law. A defense attorney can help evaluate that evidence. They can bring in professionals like forensic accountants to conduct a secondary review. They can hire expert witnesses to show that the state made mistakes when analyzing the evidence. In some cases, they can even keep certain evidence out of court by showing that police officers violated the law or the rights of a defendant during an investigation.
Building an affirmative defense
Sometimes, the law extends a degree of leniency to people who make difficult choices. There are scenarios in which behavior that is typically illegal is not a criminal offense. Those scenarios include when people use physical violence to defend themselves against an imminent threat of harm. An affirmative defense involves presenting a different perspective about a criminal incident. In cases where the state has strong evidence but there are special considerations, an affirmative defense may be the best option available.
Reviewing pending charges and the evidence gathered by the state with a skilled legal team can help people develop effective criminal defense strategies. Defendants who have support early in the criminal process can potentially defeat their pending charges or minimize the consequences that they’re facing.
