Under the United States' legal code, a person is innocent of a crime until proven guilty without any doubts. Thus, even those charged with the most heinous crimes are entitled to a criminal defense attorney who is not afraid to fight for the rights of the accused. If you or someone you know has been charged with a crime, you should make sure to choose the right criminal defense attorney for you.
When you are charged with a crime, you may be frightened, confused, or in shock. However, it is important to find a criminal defense lawyer as soon as possible so that he or she can help you straighten out your charges and determine the best course of action for you. An attorney can help you from the very beginning-a lawyer can help you with your statements made to the police so that you are later not guilty of lying or incriminate yourself. A criminal defense attorney can also aid your family and loved ones with figuring out bail.
If you do not have a family attorney or other person that you can turn to for legal advice, there are several resources that you can use to find a criminal defense attorney. You can ask your friends if they have ever employed the services of this type of lawyer. Or, if you have used a lawyer for things like writing a will, you can ask that person if he or she has a criminal defense colleague who you should consult.
Should these sources not work, you can look at the State Bar to see a list of certified attorneys in your area. From here, you should consider contacting several different lawyers to find the right one for you. When you make contact with the lawyer, you can ask about previous experience and successes in the court room. Additionally, make sure that the attorney has the time and manpower to take on your case. You should also consider his or her cost to double-check that you can afford the services.
In some cases, you may not have the funds to pay for a criminal defense attorney. However, under the Constitution, you are entitled to legal representation. Therefore, if you cannot afford a private lawyer, you can have a public defender assigned to your case.
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