If you are arrested for a crime whether you are guilty of the crime or not, it can be a very scary and stressful time. Just being handcuffed and put in the back of a police car is enough to scare anyone. If you are arrested and you want to ensure the best possible outcome, you should hire a criminal defense attorney. There are several things that an attorney can do for you that you wouldn’t be able to do for yourself.

Assistance With Bail
When you are arrested, you will often be held in jail until your bail hearing. The amount of money that you would pay to be released on bail would depend on the severity of your crime and your criminal history. The best way to ensure that you will be released on bail and that you will be required to pay the lowest amount of money possible is to hire an attorney.

Realistic Evaluation of the Case
Most people don’t have enough experience with criminal law to be able to understand exactly how much trouble they are in. If you are arrested for a crime, you should sit down with a criminal defense attorney to get a realistic evaluation of your case. Your attorney would review the police report, the evidence against you, and they would listen to your side of the story. This will give you an idea of how much trouble you are in. The attorney would also be able to give you advice regarding how you should plead. In the end, the decision is entirely yours, however, having an attorney there to give you their professional opinion can make it easier for you to decide what you are going to do.

Plea Deals
If you are guilty of the crime that you committed, your attorney would try to work out a plea deal. This is where you agree to plead guilty in exchange for a reduced sentence. Plea deals benefit both parties. The deal would avoid a trial, saving the court system a great deal of time and money. It would also help you as you would be serving a reduced sentence. Only a lawyer can work with the prosecution to set up a deal. If you were planning to defend yourself in court, this type of deal would not be an option.

Case Preparation and Representation
If you are not guilty of the crime that you are accused of and you are planning to go to trial, you would need a good lawyer in your corner. Your attorney would prepare the strongest case possible in hopes of the jury finding you not guilty. Not only would the lawyer come up with the best strategy, they would also find witnesses to testify on your behalf. They would also prepare you and the other witnesses for your time on the stand. Most criminal attorneys have investigators on their staff. If there is any evidence that might help your case, they will have their investigators working to find this evidence.
Once the case is prepared, your attorney would present it to the court. After making their opening statements, your lawyer would cross-examine witnesses for the prosecution. When it is time for your lawyer to present your side of the case, they would question the witnesses who are testifying on your behalf. Finally, they would make their closing argument. There is an old age saying, that says that a person who chooses to defend themselves in court has a fool for a client. This is true. If you want to have the best chance of being found not guilty during your trial, you would need a good criminal defense attorney working for you.

Someone to Listen
Most people are very scared and stressed after they are arrested. When you hire a criminal lawyer, you will have someone to listen to your fears and your worries. Having someone with legal experience to listen to you and give you advice and reassurance can make the whole process much easier.

Being arrested for a crime, whether you are guilty or not guilty can be a very scary time. It is important to hire a criminal attorney very early on to make the entire process easier. It will also ensure the best outcome possible.