When Represented By A Criminal Lawyer Hopewell VA Accused Are In Good Hands
The very idea that they could be arrested and charged for committing a crime is unthinkable for the vast majority of people. Yet the police arrest many ordinary people every year for a wide variety of reasons. Some failed to pay their taxes, others operated a vehicle whilst under the influence and many others simply made bad decisions or took chances the never should have. At least, with a criminal lawyer Hopewell VA accused can be sure of a fair hearing.
Every citizens, even those that are accused of committing the most terrible crimes have certain rights that are protected by the constitution. One of these rights is to refuse to answer questions or make statements to the police without their attorneys present. Legal experts agree that it is important to insist on this right. It is all too common for accused to say something that will be harmful to their case at a later stage.
When taking on a case the attorney will at once review the circumstances of the arrest in order to make sure that all the procedures were correctly followed. If this is not the case the charges against his client may be dropped. He will interview his client to clarify the facts and he will review the case docket. He will also advise his client to cooperate with the authorities.
The attorney will also take steps to arrange bail for his client. The courts routinely approve bail if they are convinced that the accused will appear again in court, that he will not meddle in the case and that he will comply with the other conditions. Once the bail amount is paid, the accused are allowed to go free. If he cannot afford the bail amount, the services of a bondsman can be arranged.
The attorney will brief his client on the importance of adhering to the conditions of bail. If he does not do so, he can be arrested again and the second time round it will be very difficult to arrange for bail. The accused will also lose the money he posted as bail and he will face additional criminal charges. Some attorneys will even refuse to continue with a case if their clients breach the bail conditions.
One of the biggest dilemmas facing defence attorneys is a dishonest client. Accused often lie to their attorneys because they feel embarrassed or they worry that the true facts will damage their chances in court. Nothing can be further from the truth. The attorney needs to be in possession of all the facts, even if they are unsavoury. Being fully in the picture is the only way in which a proper defence can be prepared.
Because the courts are swamped with cases waiting to be heard, it is often possible to finalize the case without even appearing in court. This is done through plea bargaining. The accused agree to a sentence that the attorney negotiated with the prosecutor and he pleads guilty. The entire matter is finalized in chambers and the accused save a considerable amount in legal fees.
The legal fees in a criminal case can be prohibitive. However, no accused should ever even consider the possibility of representing himself. The legal system is extremely complex and there are numerous pitfalls that can prove to be damaging, detrimental even, to a person defending himself.
Every citizens, even those that are accused of committing the most terrible crimes have certain rights that are protected by the constitution. One of these rights is to refuse to answer questions or make statements to the police without their attorneys present. Legal experts agree that it is important to insist on this right. It is all too common for accused to say something that will be harmful to their case at a later stage.
When taking on a case the attorney will at once review the circumstances of the arrest in order to make sure that all the procedures were correctly followed. If this is not the case the charges against his client may be dropped. He will interview his client to clarify the facts and he will review the case docket. He will also advise his client to cooperate with the authorities.
The attorney will also take steps to arrange bail for his client. The courts routinely approve bail if they are convinced that the accused will appear again in court, that he will not meddle in the case and that he will comply with the other conditions. Once the bail amount is paid, the accused are allowed to go free. If he cannot afford the bail amount, the services of a bondsman can be arranged.
The attorney will brief his client on the importance of adhering to the conditions of bail. If he does not do so, he can be arrested again and the second time round it will be very difficult to arrange for bail. The accused will also lose the money he posted as bail and he will face additional criminal charges. Some attorneys will even refuse to continue with a case if their clients breach the bail conditions.
One of the biggest dilemmas facing defence attorneys is a dishonest client. Accused often lie to their attorneys because they feel embarrassed or they worry that the true facts will damage their chances in court. Nothing can be further from the truth. The attorney needs to be in possession of all the facts, even if they are unsavoury. Being fully in the picture is the only way in which a proper defence can be prepared.
Because the courts are swamped with cases waiting to be heard, it is often possible to finalize the case without even appearing in court. This is done through plea bargaining. The accused agree to a sentence that the attorney negotiated with the prosecutor and he pleads guilty. The entire matter is finalized in chambers and the accused save a considerable amount in legal fees.
The legal fees in a criminal case can be prohibitive. However, no accused should ever even consider the possibility of representing himself. The legal system is extremely complex and there are numerous pitfalls that can prove to be damaging, detrimental even, to a person defending himself.
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