Being arrested for a crime can be extremely upsetting and stressful. This is true whether the individual is guilty of the crime or not. After an arrest, it is best to hire a criminal attorney in Lancaster County, PA. There are several things that a criminal attorney can do or the individual that they would not be able to do on their own.
Bail Assistance
After an arrest, the individual would need to go before a bail commissioner to have the amount of their bail set. If it was a simple crime, the person could be let out of jail on personal recognizance. If the crime was more severe or if the individual has a long criminal record, the bail could be very costly. A criminal attorney can help the person get out of jail as quickly and as inexpensively as possible.
Realistic Assessment of the Case
Since most people don’t have much knowledge of criminal law, they might not know how much trouble they are actually in after they are arrested. If an individual hires a criminal attorney, the attorney would go over the police report, witness statements, and listen to the suspect’s version of what occurred. This would give the individual an idea of how to plead and what to expect.
Plea Deals
In some cases, the individual will be offered a plea deal. This is a shorter sentence in exchange for them pleading not guilty. These deals are often given to save the court the time and the cost of a trial. It is best that an individual has a criminal attorney working for them to make sure the deal is beneficial to them and then to iron out the details of the deal.
Representation in Court
If the person is not guilty of the crime that they are being accused of, they will want to fight the charges in court. In order to do this and be successful, they would need to have a criminal attorney on their side. The attorney would gather as much evidence as possible to prove that the person is innocent and then present it to the court.
If a person is arrested for a crime and they want to best outcome possible, they should hire a criminal attorney in Lancaster County, PA. For more information, contact the Law Office of Melissa R. Montgomery.
