Criminal law in the United States is not one neat set of rules, but rather an intricate web of them. It’s subject to revision, individual contest, and interpretation. Furthermore, each state has its own legislation that can differ significantly from federal law. If you’re accused of any type of criminal charge in Los Angeles, or anywhere in Southern California, then you’ll need a legal representative who’s not only experienced in criminal defense, but one who also has specific knowledge of the state’s relevant acts and procedures.
California has one of the largest and most complicated criminal court systems in the country, and a raft of different governing acts. These include the Criminal Code, the Criminal Procedure Act, the Crimes Act, the Misuse of Drugs Act, the Evidence Act, the Road Traffic Act, and the Sentencing Act. Only a criminal defense attorney with experience in the state will be able to clearly interpret any charges against you. And only a SoCal dedicated defense lawyer will also be able to engage in an effective discovery of evidence process, contest whether you should be charged with a misdemeanor or felony, and successfully litigate in a trial process if necessary.
Misdemeanor or felony?
One central aspect to California criminal law is that some offences do not strictly fall in either the misdemeanor or felony categories, but rather can be classified as either. The types of criminal acts that may be prosecuted as either a misdemeanor or a felony, depending on the circumstances and interpretation of events, include burglaries where no-one is present at the premises, incidents of domestic and sexual violence, forgery, vandalism, and assault with a deadly weapon. The level at which these charges are prosecuted is often largely at the discretion of the prosecutor, who will take into account the individual circumstances surrounding the alleged crime, as well as any prior criminal convictions.
The role of your defense lawyer is to try and persuade the prosecutor to proceed with a misdemeanor rather than a felony charge. There is therefore a clear advantage to enlisting the services of the best defense lawyer you can find to argue your case. There are internet sites, such as the global HG.org, which enable you to scan directories of lawyers and firms by country. You can also narrow the search, for example you can search directly for a criminal defense lawyer los angeles. Once you’ve located some legal options in your area, interview them, or attend an initial consultation to see whether they’ve got a confident track record in the area of charges you may be facing. Maximize your potential for a minimum penalty by investing time and effort locating the right criminal defense lawyer for you.
