Getting arrested or charged with a crime can have serious consequences for your life. Hiring the right experienced lawyer handling criminal defense cases in West Palm Beach early in your case can often help prevent charges from being filed altogether or minimize the impact if they are.
Everyone has the right to effective assistance of counsel. Your headstrong attorney should be determined to build a strong legal defense and closely examine all aspects of your case.
Self-Defense
Florida law allows for the use of non-deadly force in self-defense situations. For example, if you are confronted with someone threatening to punch or kick you in the face and you react by hitting them first, this could constitute self-defense.
Criminal defense attorneys often spend significant amounts of time at local courthouses representing clients in West Palm Beach and other surrounding communities. This means that they are well acquainted with the judges, prosecutors and clerks. This knowledge, combined with their tenacity and courtroom skills, helps them successfully defend clients.
If you’re facing battery charges, having a talented lawyer in your corner can mean the difference between a conviction and a dismissal of your case. An experienced criminal defense attorney will know how to argue that you acted in self-defense. This will help you avoid any unnecessary jail or prison time and may also prevent your reputation from being tarnished in the eyes of the public.
Internet Crimes
In the digital age, the internet has revolutionized how people conduct business and communicate. It also has ushered in a new classification of crimes called cybercrimes, which can be prosecuted under state or federal laws. If you are charged with an internet crime, you need a top-rated criminal defense attorney to develop a strategy for your case.
The alleged offenses that can result in an internet crime conviction are varied. These include sex offenses, such as child pornography and solicitation of a minor, and fraud, such as identity theft. Attorney Lerman is an experienced criminal lawyer who has handled sex offense cases and many other types of offenses in Florida courts.
The right criminal defense lawyer can help you avoid a conviction, or at the very least, minimize the impact on your life. Your defense attorney should get to work immediately, examining evidence and developing legal strategies for your case. The best criminal defense attorneys are Lead Counsel verified and have a track record of success in their practice areas.
Plea Bargains
A defendant may decide to enter a plea bargain with the prosecution in lieu of a full criminal trial. Plea bargaining is a process where the prosecutor and defense lawyer discuss various issues including reducing the charges (such as lowering a felony charge to a misdemeanor) or the sentence, which is usually reduced to probation.
Many prosecutors prefer to work out plea bargains because they can move the case through the court system much faster than a trial. Also, a guilty plea can eliminate the need for a sentencing hearing which could save time and money for all parties involved.
A defendant should always consult with a criminal attorney before accepting a plea bargain. A criminal attorney can make sure that a defendant fully understands the consequences of waiving their right to trial and other options that could be available such as pretrial diversion programs or proving not guilty. They can also ensure that a plea does not interfere with a client’s immigration status or their ability to hold certain jobs or lease an apartment.
Trials
A headstrong criminal defense attorney can help you avoid serious penalties, whether for a misdemeanor DUI charge or a felony theft case. Your lawyer will get to know you and your situation so that she can frame a compassionate but aggressive defense based on the particular facts of your case.
In some cases, your attorney may decide to take your case to trial instead of accepting a plea bargain. If that happens, your attorney will prepare for your trial and have you serve subpoenas to any witnesses who will need to appear at the courthouse.
A seasoned local criminal defense lawyer will likely have a good relationship with the judges and prosecutors in Palm Beach County through frequent interactions. This can help a lawyer understand temperament, tendencies and patterns that might affect the way each judge and prosecutor views your case. This knowledge could help during the negotiation process or at your trial. An experienced criminal defense attorney also knows how to fight police and prosecutors who try to pressure you into taking a bad plea deal or fail to follow the law in other ways.
