If you’re facing criminal charges, don’t proceed without an attorney; you will need their expertise to get the best outcome.
Here’s why.
- An attorney can get your sentence reduced
Criminal cases aren’t as simple as having a predetermined sentence handed down with a conviction. Ten people can be convicted of the same crime in the same county and receive vastly different sentences. Case outcomes vary because the specifics of a sentence are decided based on how each side presents their case and how the judge or jury decides to rule.
If you’re facing criminal charges and you’re pretty sure you’ll end up with a conviction, you absolutely need an attorney to represent you in the courtroom. An attorney will fight to reduce your charges and your sentence in ways that you can’t do yourself.
For example, if the evidence against you is overwhelming, your lawyer may advise you to plead not guilty as part of their strategy to lessen your charges. On your own, you might think it doesn’t matter and plead guilty, which can cause you to spend more time in jail than you would otherwise.
There are numerous ways in which attorneys strategize to get charges dropped or reduced, including plea deals and proving the prosecution violated the rules of evidence. If you aren’t a lawyer, you won’t know how this is done.
- You’ll be too emotional to defend yourself
No matter how many court drama television shows you’ve watched, it will never prepare you for actually being in a courtroom. As the defendant, you’re going to feel anxious, nervous, uncertain, and maybe even angry. That automatically puts you in a position to feel defensive, which will work against you if you have to provide your own defense pro se.
When you get into the courtroom, you won’t have as much control over your feelings as you think. Emotions have no place in the courtroom; expressing them will only lead to problems. For example, if you get triggered and react by speaking out of turn, raising your voice, or even yelling, that might get you the maximum sentence. It’s just not a good idea to attempt to defend yourself in a situation that has a negative emotional impact on you.
- Navigating the system without experience is difficult
Lawyers have years of training regarding how to act in a courtroom. That’s in addition to learning the law and knowing how to navigate the system throughout each case. You don’t have that advantage and will be prone to making mistakes that can cost you your case.
Although you have a right to defend yourself, nobody is required to help you figure out how to do that. You will be entirely on your own to learn all the details. The problem is that you won’t get special treatment for being ignorant of the process. If you make a mistake – even with paperwork – there will be consequences.
If your plan is to ask the other party’s attorney a “quick question,” like how to file a motion, you’ll be disappointed because they ethically cannot help you. It is a conflict of interest. That includes assisting you with simple things like telling you where to get a specific form or explaining the definition of a word you don’t understand.
Judges aren’t obligated to help you, either. Although a small handful do help pro se litigants, they don’t like doing it because it’s frustrating. It’s always better to get a criminal defense attorney and defer to their expertise.
- A lawyer makes it easier to win your case
Winning your case without an attorney will prove harder than it seems. Many people are initially hopeful because they don’t think there could possibly be enough evidence against them to get a conviction. A lot of times, this turns out not to be true. It’s not hard to sway a jury or judge with evidence that you think is bogus.
When you’re the defendant, your perspective will be skewed in some way, whether you’re too hopeful or overly pessimistic. You won’t be able to see the big picture, nor will you have the knowledge and experience required to present a strong argument. Trying to win your case without legal counsel is a bad idea.
Don’t face your charges alone – get a lawyer ASAP
The risks of defending yourself in a criminal case are too big. To get the best outcome possible for your case, get a criminal attorney as soon as possible.
