Why It's A Good Idea To Hire An Attorney Even If You Only Have Misdemeanor Charges

Did you recently get arrested by the local police and currently have misdemeanor-level charges pending in a local court? A misdemeanor might not be the end of the world, but that doesn't mean you should go to court without an attorney to represent you. A criminal defense attorney in your area can help you navigate this speed bump on the road of life and possibly help you mitigate the fallout. Here's why hiring an attorney to fight your misdemeanor is a good idea.

A Local Lawyer That Takes Smaller Cases Might Have a Good Relationship With the Prosecutor or Even the Judge

When looking for a lawyer to take your current case, you don't need to track down some super high-priced attorney with a national profile. There are plenty of criminal defense attorneys throughout the country that specialize in defending local, smaller charges like the ones you are facing. A lawyer in a smaller town likely helps multiple people in similar situations and may be familiar to the other people who will be showing up in court. The local prosecutor may be more willing to negotiate a plea deal or even significantly reduce the charges if they know the criminal defense attorney who is representing you on a personal level and there is a good defense to be made. A local defense attorney that takes a lot of smaller cases will also likely be known by the area's judges and that could also be to your benefit if your case does go to trial. 

It's Always Best to Hire Your Own Attorney Instead of Having One Appointed

If it's just a smaller charge and you aren't anticipating a stiff sentence, you might just ask the court to appoint an attorney for you. While this is less expensive, or sometimes free, it may very well be worth investing in your own private counsel instead of using a public defender. Public defenders typically have a heavy workload and may only be able to provide a certain amount of time to your case. Hiring your own attorney makes sure you get a more complete defense that will go over every last detail if necessary.

Don't Just Accept the First Deal the Prosecution Offers—Make Sure You Have Someone Look It Over With Your Interests in Mind

For some first-time offenders, the prosecutor's office may reach out and try to act like they are a friend. If you are willing to plead guilty or no contest, for example, you may be able to enroll in an educational program that deals with the issues surrounding your arrest and avoid jail time. This is sometimes true in some states for first-time DUI offenders who do not injure anyone or cause property damage, for example. But you should always have your own attorney make sure you are getting the best deal possible and not just take the prosecutor's word for it.

Contact a criminal defense attorney in your area for more information.