You should always hire a criminal defense lawyer if you are charged with a crime, even if you’re innocent. The Constitution guarantees the right to legal representation in criminal prosecutions.
If you’ve been falsely accused of a crime, a Cleveland criminal defense lawyer can protect your right to a fair trial and safeguard you from prosecutorial overreach. A lawyer can also help clear your name and avoid the negative consequences of a conviction.
Why You Need a Lawyer If You’ve Been Charged With a Crime
The U.S. justice system is not perfect. Innocent people can be falsely accused and convicted of crimes they didn’t commit. There are several reasons why you may have been arrested and charged with a crime despite your innocence:
- You were near the scene of the crime.
- You fit the description of a suspect.
- Another person wrongfully identified you.
- Police misinterpreted the situation.
The job of the police and prosecution is to secure a conviction, and they may face great pressure to close the case. Their role is to build a case based on the evidence they believe supports criminal charges.
Many people assume that innocence alone will lead to dismissal of the charges. Unfortunately, this is not true, and there are many innocent people currently sitting in prison for crimes they were wrongfully convicted of. While you technically can represent yourself, it is never advisable, and you should always work with a lawyer.
For a free legal consultation, call 216-774-0000
How a Defense Lawyer Can Help
Despite what some might think, hiring a criminal defense lawyer is not a tacit admission of guilt. A lawyer can protect your freedoms and liberties by countering the prosecution‘s argument, providing evidence of your innocence, and preventing miscarriages of justice.
More specifically, here’s how a lawyer can help:
Support You During Police Questioning
After being arrested, you’ll likely be subject to police questioning. Many defense lawyers advise clients not to answer police questions without an attorney present.
Even innocuous words can be twisted by law enforcement into incriminating statements or admissions of guilt. You can refuse to answer any questions until you have an attorney present.
Once there, an attorney can advise you on your responses and tell you which questions you should and shouldn’t respond to. A lawyer will ensure police respect your Miranda Rights and refrain from engaging in dishonest questioning meant to confuse or badger you into saying something harmful to your case.
Investigate Your Case
Law enforcement and the prosecution will investigate to gather evidence for your trial. Your lawyer can perform a simultaneous investigation to gather evidence to prove your innocence. During criminal trials, both sides have access to each other’s evidence, so a lawyer can address and resolve disputes.
Attend Hearings With You
Criminal proceedings typically involve several preliminary hearings before the case goes to a full-blown trial. A lawyer can represent you during these hearings and look for opportunities to resolve the case without a jury trial. These hearings will help you understand the charges against you and the next steps of the criminal process.
Negotiate with Prosecution
The prosecution wants to maximize their chances of success, so they may be open to negotiations with your lawyer. One potential strategy is known as a plea bargain, where the prosecution agrees to lesser criminal charges in exchange for a guilty plea. For example, a lawyer could potentially negotiate a felony burglary charge down to a misdemeanor trespassing charge.
Represent You in Trial
If other resolutions fail, your criminal case will go to trial. A criminal defense lawyer can represent you in court, questioning witnesses and presenting your argument to the judge and jury.
Over 95% of cases are settled before they go to court, so a jury trial is used after all other options are exhausted. Going to trial can be beneficial if you have a strong defense, as it can result in a complete acquittal from all criminal charges.
What Happens If I Don’t Get a Lawyer?
Those accused of crimes in the U.S. have the right to represent themselves, so you aren’t legally required to have an attorney. However, unless you yourself have legal experience, you should always hire legal representation. The criminal justice system is complex, and a lack of specialized knowledge is a severe disadvantage.
A lawyer will level the playing field and move your case through the system much more efficiently. They will see legal strategies others won’t and provide their professional advice at every point in criminal proceedings. A lawyer can also provide moral and emotional support for dealing with the stress and uncertainty of being arrested.
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Contact a Cleveland Criminal Defense Lawyer Today
A claim of innocence doesn’t matter much without the proper legal support behind it. That is why you need a criminal defense lawyer if you‘re innocent—to give your not guilty plea the strength to stand up against the prosecution’s argument.
Contact HMW Law—Ohio Trial Attorneys online or call us today to discuss your case with a Cleveland criminal defense lawyer.
Call or text 216-774-0000 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
