If you are facing charges for a crime that you committed, your attorney’s job is to help keep you out of jail or to reduce the number of penalties you face. Depending on the specific facts of your case, you may be at risk of minimum penalties and federal charges.
For example, did you know that federal charges often come with at least one year in prison upon conviction? If your attorney can get the charges dropped to the state level or to a misdemeanor, your options and possibilities open up. It may even be possible to reduce the likelihood of going to jail at all.
Every criminal defense attorney’s strategies are going to be slightly different based on numerous factors. They may be familiar with the tendencies of the judge or familiar with the way the prosecution works. At the core of your case, your attorney will focus on presenting the facts in a way that puts you in the best light possible.
In criminal defense, the best defense is always the truth. The way you present the truth can manipulate the outcome of the case. For example, it may be the reality that you stole from a local store. However, your defense attorney might argue that you did not have an option.
For instance, if someone was hurt outside, you might have run inside to grab a first-aid kit without paying. Yes, that is technically stealing, but it was for the better good. In that case, it would be reasonable to allow you to pay for the goods and to walk away without penalties. The prosecution might present this case as if you never intended to make a payment and that you frequently stole goods. A spin on the same story does make a difference, which is why working with the right attorney matters.