Search

Social security denial - a journal of assistance

How You Can Help Your Criminal Defense Attorney Do A Great Job

9 October 2015

Alexis Garcia

Keep in mind that if you are guilty of committing a crime, the role of your criminal defense attorney is not necessarily to get you off the hook but rather to assist you in navigating the justice process and help you receive the best possible sentence. You probably already know that it's important for you to show up in court with a neat and clean appearance and to address the  judge when your turn comes to speak in your own defense, but there are other ways that you can help optimize your chances of a favorable outcome. Following a three strategies designed streamline your journey through the criminal justice system.

Be Honest About the Facts of Your Case

Even if you're guilty as charged, come clean with your lawyer. Admitting guilt to your attorney will allow him or her to craft the best defense strategy. Remember that admitting to your attorney that you committed a crime is not the same as offering a guilty plea to the court. Keep in mind that the burden of proof is on the prosecution, and you may enter a plea of not guilty if you or your lawyer thinks that the prosecution doesn't possess enough hard evidence to convict you of the crime with which you've been charged. Also, you are not required to provide official testimony against yourself if by doing so will result in providing proof that you're guilty.

A skilled attorney will probably be able to tell if you are misrepresenting the truth about your role in the crime of which you have been charged. If he or she suspects that you are lying, it may erode the attorney-client relationship.

Be Proactive About Cleaning Up Your Life

If you committed the crime of which you have been charged, becoming proactive before going in front of the judge may work in your benefit. For instance, if drug or alcohol use on your part was an instrumental factor in the crime, enrolling in a treatment program will help convince the judge that you're on track to cleaning up your life so that you won't become a repeat offender. In most jurisdictions, judges have a significant amount of leeway concerning sentencing, and a good local attorney will have a strong idea of how particular judges tend to rule. Keep in mind that if alcohol or drugs were a factor, part of your sentence will probably include enrollment in a treatment program, so getting a head start may enable you to get on with your life in a more timely fashion than waiting until treatment is court ordered. If this is your first or even second offense, keep in mind that this is your main chance to turn your life around. If your lawyer can present concrete evidence to the court that you're taking positive steps, you may end up with a reduced sentence.

Resist the Urge to Be Too Much of a Backseat Driver

Because you hired your criminal defense attorney for his or her professional expertise, you should resist the urge to control the process too much. Naturally, you should question your lawyer about decisions that you don't understand, but keep in mind the professional attorneys know far more about the inner workings of the justice system than you do. By law, certain decisions concerning your case are entirely up to you, such as what plea to enter, whether or not to testify in your own defense, and whether to waive a jury trial. However, trying to micromanage all aspects of your defense, such as specifics on how to question witnesses, probably won't do anything to help your case and may actually hinder your attorney from providing you with the best possible representation.

Share