A criminal defense attorney is an attorney specializing in the legal representation of those charged with criminal offense. Criminal defense is one of the most complex fields of law practice. There are literally thousands of state and federal laws on the books that criminal defense lawyers must navigate to be effective at their clients’ defense. They must therefore be skilled in the law and the various ways it affects their client’s lives.
Criminal defense attorneys represent their clients who have been charged with crimes, including but not limited to: murder, assault, arson, embezzlement, theft, drug possession, DUI, Felony, Hitting another Party, conspiracy, vandalism, harassment, racketeering (RICO cases), witness tampering, theft, conspiracy, solicitation, and many other State and Federal crimes. There are also special sections within the court system that criminal defense lawyers may be helpful in defending their clients from, such as civil cases such as slander, professional misconduct, discrimination, and libel. Other types of crimes, a lawyer can help a client with include DUI/DWI, conspiracy to commit murder, sex crimes, child pornography, sex crimes involving children, theft, and violence. Because each crime has different components, it is important that criminal defense lawyers know the local procedures and laws in their specific jurisdiction so they are aware of the legal process their client must go through. Visit: https://www.southjerseylawyers.com/
When a criminal defense attorney is hired by a client, the lawyer will seek the counsel of a prosecuting attorney or decide on their own whether or not to present the case to a prosecutor. If a client does go to trial, the criminal defense attorney will work with the prosecuting attorney to present their case to the judge or jury as well as prepare for the actual trial. One common scenario that may warrant the involvement of a criminal defense attorney is if a defendant finds themselves charged with a crime where there are potential repercussions not just to the defendant but to their family as well. Criminal defense lawyers can be instrumental in keeping their clients out of jail, which can keep the defendant away from further trouble.
There are many situations where criminal law attorneys may be sought after. If a person is accused of a crime, one of the first things the attorney will do is research the charges against them. Even if there are not charges being filed against a person, the criminal attorney will still study the details of the case and gather evidence to prove their client innocent. This evidence may include gathering phone records, scrutinizing the police report for validity, examining a person’s clothing or items to match their DNA to that of the defendant, checking the person’s background, and gathering other evidence to build a strong case against their client. Once all of the evidence gathered by the criminal defense attorney is able to be presented to the court, the criminal case will move forward.
Another situation where criminal defense attorneys may be called in involves crimes that are caught on tape. In this type of situation, the police officer that was recording the incident will likely face criminal charges as well. The reasoning behind this is because the officer had every right to record the suspect without any permission or discretion. The same goes for using hidden cameras to catch a suspect in the act of committing a crime. If a crime is being committed, it is important to have your criminal defense attorney review the video footage. If the evidence obtained through these two methods is enough to secure a conviction, then the suspect will be charged with their actual crime.
A criminal defense attorney does not only handle cases involving serious offenses. Many people who are accused of misdemeanors or minor crimes will also use this type of lawyer to protect their rights. As a misdemeanor is considered a lesser crime, this type of lawyers often represent the accused even if they are innocent of the charges. When a person has their rights violated, it is important to use an experienced lawyer to represent them in court.