Having a criminal record can negatively impact your life in a number of ways. It can be difficult to secure a job or even find housing with a conviction on your record.
A winning Athens criminal attorney can protect you in court from serious misdemeanor and felony charges. They can also help you have your case expunged.
What to Look for in a Criminal Defense Attorney
A criminal defense attorney is your best resource when faced with a crime. They know what to look for in evidence, how to frame arguments and can help you decide what to say when questioned by the police. Their role is to keep you out of jail and on the road to recovery.
Many criminal cases are settled before a trial by a plea bargain. A good criminal lawyer at Athens GA will be able to protect your legal rights and provide professional advice on what to do. Prosecutors often use a defendant’s ignorance of the law to get them to incriminate themselves.
When interviewing potential lawyers, ask about their experience and what they have done in the past. Also, be sure to ask about the number of cases they have handled in your area. This is important because a local criminal attorney may already be familiar with the prosecutor and police officers who are involved in your case.
Plea Bargains
According to the American Bar Association, 90 percent or more of criminal convictions result from plea bargains, rather than trials. Plea bargains are just as likely in weak cases as strong ones, and prosecutors adjust their offers to match the likelihood of guilt.
The main advantage of a plea bargain is lower punishments, but it also saves the prosecutor’s time and resources. Courts often have a backlog of cases waiting to be tried, and prosecutors want to resolve the case quickly to avoid the cost of a trial.
However, many criminal cases involve charges that affect your life beyond jail time, such as a record of a conviction preventing you from working in certain fields or impacting housing options and immigration status. A good attorney can fight to protect your rights and prevent police or prosecutors from coercing you into accepting a plea bargain. They can also explain the legal implications of your case. This includes a possible loss of your constitutional rights to due process and the right to a jury trial, among others.
Defending in Municipal Court
While criminal charges heard in Municipal Court are generally less severe than those heard in Superior Court, a conviction will appear on your record and can affect your future prospects for employment, housing, public benefits or college admission. An experienced Athens criminal defense attorney can help you avoid such consequences.
The attorneys at Taylor & Boguski have extensive experience in defending clients charged with crimes in local courts, including Municipal Court. They are well versed in the local court procedures and can use their extensive knowledge of case law to your advantage. Their experience in Municipal Court can also serve to their client’s advantage when it comes to negotiating a plea deal with the prosecution. Often, the lawyers can negotiate an agreement that keeps the case in Municipal Court rather than Superior court (where the offense is considered more serious). However, this does not mean that a guilty plea cannot ultimately result in a conviction.
Appeals
A criminal record may make it harder for a person to get a job or find housing. If a person is facing a felony or misdemeanor crime, they need to seek the help of a criminal defense lawyer right away.
In some cases, a person convicted of a crime may be entitled to an appeal. An appeal is a way to have the case reviewed by a higher court. The losing side of a case has the right to appeal if they believe that there was an error made in the trial court or that the law that was applied by the judge violated a constitutional right.
William “Bubba” Head, Cory Yager and Larry Kohn have a combined 140 years of experience fighting for their clients in criminal court. They will take your case seriously and vigorously defend you against a misdemeanor, DUI, or felony charge. If they believe that you have grounds to file an appeal, they will handle the legal paperwork and present it to the appellate court justices in a brief.
