Options in a Criminal Defense
For anyone facing criminal charges, the importance of working with a criminal defense attorney that can be trusted and relied on cannot be overstated. Our attorneys can provide services of an experienced criminal defense attorney who understands the many pathways forward available to defendants. With the skills of an aggressive defense attorney, these are just some of the possibilities ahead:
Statute of Limitations
Many crimes have very specific time frames during which they may be prosecuted. Once that window closes, the prosecution may be barred from moving forward with charges.
Convincing a Jury of Your Innocence
Everyone knows that defendants are innocent until it’s proved otherwise. That means prosecutors are tasked with proving every element of the case—the criminal act, intent, and the concurrence of the two– to get a conviction. A tough defense attorney will use testimony, documents, and other materials in an effort to take apart the prosecutor’s narrative and convince a jury of your innocence.
Challenging Evidence in the Case
Because there are strict rules related to evidence in a criminal case, deviations from prevailing protocols can really benefit a defendant. Your attorney may be able to point out anomalies with the chain of custody, may confront the reliability or analysis of forensics, or may emphasize contradictions related to witness testimony.
Providing Our Own Experts
When we put our own expert witnesses on the stand, it can be a compelling way to expose the jury to an alternate view than what was previously presented by the prosecution of evidence in the case. This can be a basic step to establishing a fresh narrative to clarify events relative to the event in question.
Providing An Affirmative Defense
Sometimes it behooves a defendant to stick with an affirmative defense as a way to reduce legal consequences associated with the charges. Instead of claiming innocence, the goal is to demonstrate that there were mitigating circumstances associated with the situation—perhaps self-defense, intoxication, or some other issue– that might decrease, or even eliminate criminal liability.
Negotiating a Plea
Pleading to lesser charges in exchange for a reduced sentence is an approach that prosecutors might be amenable to depending on a number of factors, from your history of arrests/convictions, to the confidence a prosecutor has in their case, not to mention the significance of material you have to trade.
Getting a Mitigated Sentence
If it’s looking like a guilty verdict is on the horizon, defendants who express remorse and accept responsibility for their situation and who show a strong desire to turn their lives around may be able to take advantage of sentencing options outside of jail time. There are multiple alternatives to jail that might be considered, drug rehabilitation, mental health counseling, and more.
A Vigorous Defense
The dedicated La Plata & Waldorf criminal defense lawyers at The Law Office of Hammad S. Matin, P.A. examine every case on an individual basis and plan a defense based on the specifics they see. Working in close consultation with clients, they devise a strategy to achieve the best possible outcomes. To discuss your situation, schedule a confidential consultation in our office today.
