If you have been charged with a crime, you may
feel overwhelmed and unsure of what to do. Although facing criminal charges is
stressful, it is important to remember that under the law, you are presumed
innocent unless proven guilty. The best thing you can do to protect your rights
is to seek the counsel of a criminal defense attorney who
can help you develop a strong defense.
Important
Elements of Criminal Defense
In many cases, there are multiple elements
that go into creating a solid defense strategy. Good criminal lawyers
explain to their clients which components they may consider using and why. Some
of the most critical elements of building a strong defense strategy include:
Evidence.
Your criminal defense lawyer can use evidence to help prove your innocence,
point to a lack of evidence against you, and/or obtain additional evidence to
build your defense such as defense witness testimony.
Sufficient
time to prepare. Gathering evidence, interviewing witnesses,
preparing you for court, and developing effective defense strategies take time.
If you have been charged with a crime, it is essential to find a good criminal
lawyer as soon as possible so they have plenty of time to help you build a
solid defense.
Being
honest with your lawyer. It is important to be candid with your
attorney. Withholding facts or evidence or lying can lead to unwanted surprises
in the courtroom. Your lawyer will help you understand the charges that have
been brought against you and explain your legal options. Do not talk about your
case with anyone but your attorney, and never post about your charges on the
internet or social media. Remember that anything you say to anyone except your
defense attorney may be used against you later.
Common
Defense Strategies
Which strategies your lawyer uses will depend
on the specific circumstances and the nature of the charges. However, there are
a few defense strategies that attorneys often utilize, including:
Reasonable
Doubt
One of the most common and effective criminal
defense strategies is to create reasonable doubt. In the U.S., a prosecutor
must prove a defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt to get a conviction. A
criminal defense lawyer looks for weaknesses in the prosecution’s case and the
evidence presented. There are different ways to successfully create reasonable
doubt, including by poking holes in the prosecution’s theory of the alleged
crime and questioning the credibility of witnesses and whether their testimony
is logical.
Alibi
A solid alibi can go a long way when it comes
to proving someone’s innocence. Since a person cannot be in two places at once,
evidence that they were somewhere else when a crime occurred can be quite
compelling. Some ways to corroborate or support an alibi are testimony by
credible witnesses, GPS data, video footage, and photographs.
Other
Defenses
Some other issues that can play a part in
building a strong defense include:
●
Mistaken identity
●
Lack of probable cause
●
Chain of evidence problems
●
Illegal search and seizure
●
False confessions
●
Self-defense or defense of others
Each case is unique. If you are facing
charges, our criminal
lawyers will use all the tools at our disposal to
build a solid defense tailored to the specifics of your case.
This blog was originally posted on https://pa4law.com/building-a-strong-defense-strategies-for-defending-against-criminal-charges/
