People who plan to plead guilty may believe that they don’t need a defense lawyer because they will be accepting the crime and its punishment anyways. However, this is the biggest mistake that you can make. Trying to save money by not hiring a lawyer or doing it for any reason whatsoever can land you in deep trouble. In fact, there are chances that a legal professional could actually turn things in your favor. For this reason, you must not give up but rather seek guidance from an expert who can actually save you from severe penalties. Let us explain how a criminal defense lawyer can help you if you are going to plead guilty.
Understanding your guilty plea
Before you go ahead with the plea, you must understand the implications of the situation. You may have probably found out about the possible punishments for the charge, but there could be much more if you scratch the surface. It could bring several unforeseen consequences for your life and future, even if the prosecutor tells you that accepting a charge would bring only a minimal fine and no jail time. The implications you may not have expected include:
- Probation
- Deportation
- Loss of professional license
- Loss of driver’s license
- Fewer employment opportunities
- Reduced earning potential
- Prevent you from living in public housing
- Prohibit you from owning a firearm
Saving you from an unnecessary guilty plea
Apart from explaining the true implications of a guilty plea, a legal professional can save you from an unnecessary one. You may feel that pleading guilty and cooperating fully is the right decision to get better treatment. But the truth is that even an honest approach can lead to avoidable lifelong consequences. Hiring an attorney to help with a criminal case can save you from any unnecessary pleas that may otherwise worsen your case. They also review the prosecutors’ case to see if there are any loopholes in the police or court system because unintentional mistakes do happen. This gives you a chance to resolve the case by filing a motion to dismiss.
Helping you reduce the sentence
If you have actually committed the crime and are certain that you want to plead guilty, hiring a criminal lawyer is still a good decision. They can help you by getting the sentence reduced to the minimum. With their legal know-how and negotiation skills, they can work on the sentencing recommendations with the prosecutors. They also know the facts, arguments, and pieces of evidence that are important to the court. Further, they understand the importance of presenting your circumstances in a way that can be beneficial to you in terms of minimizing your penalties.
Whether you have committed a crime intentionally or it is just an accidental mistake, you must act judiciously and find legal representation. Only a professional can help you decide the best course of action, whether you should plead guilty or fight it out in court. Remember that criminal charges can have a lasting impact and you should make all the efforts possible to prevent them.
