We all make mistakes in life. If we didn’t, we’d never learn anything and grow as a person. Sometimes the mistakes we make hurt others and sometimes they have legal consequences as well. If you’ve made a mistake in judgement and committed a crime, and then been arrested and accused of that crime, the first thing you need to do is hire a lawyer.
Even when you believe you’re guilty, you still need legal representation to protect your rights and present your case in the best light possible. Be honest with your lawyer and let him determine the best legal path to take in your individual case.
Navigating the Justice System
The justice system is extremely complicated, which is one of the reasons lawyers spend years in school to learn how to navigate it. Without extensive knowledge of the system, you can easily become “lost” in a maze of legal complexities with no idea how to proceed.
Extenuating Circumstances
Sometimes, there are extenuating circumstances that explain why you acted as you did. Motivation also matters. A knowledgeable defense attorney will know what the best outcome for your case is, and will devise a strategy to portray your actions in the best possible light.
Burden of Proof
When you’re arrested and charged with a crime in Minnesota, it’s important to remember that the state has the burden of proof. It’s their job to prove your guilt “beyond a reasonable doubt”. That’s what the well-known phrase “You are presumed innocent until proven guilty” is all about! Even if you are guilty of committing the crime you’re accused of, that doesn’t necessarily mean that the state will successfully prove their case. The founding fathers designed the system that way for a good reason. Benjamin Franklin was paraphrasing the famous English jurist William Blackstone when he said, “It is better that 100 guilty men go free than that one innocent man should suffer.” This means the prosecution has a high burden – as it should.
You Might be Surprised
It’s important to retain the services of a licensed attorney before you are arraigned and enter a plea. Why not just make your plea, and then get a lawyer? Your lawyer might advise you to enter something other than a guilty plea. Why would she do that? Because she might be able to negotiate an agreement to prevent you from having to enter a guilty plea in the first place. There may be a way for you to make up for your mistake by agreeing to provide community service, attend substance abuse classes, etc., instead. But even if you didn’t know this and have already entered a guilty plea, a good criminal defense lawyer may be able to negotiate a plea for reduced charges.
Many of the alternatives that a criminal defense attorney can pursue would likely never have occurred to you because the average person is not likely to be aware that these possibilities even exist!
Suppressing Evidence
A criminal defense attorney will examine police reports and other police records to ensure that law enforcement didn’t make any mistakes when collecting the evidence that the state will use against you at trial.
Handling Possible Sentencing
Let’s imagine that the worst has happened — you’ve stood trial and been convicted. Sentencing is another phase in a criminal trial. You lawyer can work to try to win you a reduced sentence.
As you can clearly see, there are lots of legal options available to you regardless of your guilt or innocence. More importantly, these options are only options for you if you know about them. That’s why your first call following arrest should be to a criminal defense attorney.
One of the best criminal defense firms in the St. Paul region is Lesch Law Firm. We have the three most sought-after qualities you could want in a good criminal defense …
- Experience
- Aggressive Defense
- Compassion
We’re here 24/7, and consultations are free. John Lesch is a former prosecutor who now represents defendants, so he knows how things work on both sides of a criminal case. Take a look at our case results page and then contact us if or when you need a great criminal defense attorney!