Cheshire Criminal Lawyer

Facing a criminal charge can be intimidating. Fortunately, if you are ever charged with a crime, you do not have to face the court alone. An aggressive Cheshire criminal lawyer may be able to help.

Criminal lawyers work in many areas of the law, including but not limited to the ones described below. If you are facing criminal charges in Cheshire, a skilled personal injury attorney could help you seek the best outcome for your case.

Plea Agreements and Trial

Despite what the plethora of courtroom dramas on television would suggest, most criminal cases actually do not go to trial. Even when they do, they typically are only tried in front of a judge rather than a jury, in what is referred to as a bench trial.

Instead, the court often accepts the negotiation of a guilty plea to a lesser offense, so it can avoid being forced to prosecute the original offense at trial. Because it saves the court resources and secures a guilty plea, the court is often willing to agree to a comparatively lenient sentence in such a case, especially if it is a defendant’s first offense.

Cheshire criminal attorneys are usually experienced in negotiating these agreements and could be an invaluable ally in mitigating the consequences stemming from an arrest. If a case does go to trial, the assistance of a lawyer may be of the utmost importance in proving a defendant’s innocence.

Misdemeanor Versus Felony Charges

Misdemeanor crimes in Cheshire carry less severe punishments than felonies. The maximum sentence given for even the most serious of misdemeanors is one year in jail.  Misdemeanors are categorized according to their severity as class A, B, C, or D. Class A felony charges are the most severe, while class D are considered less serious.

Felony charges are reserved for crimes which the state considers the most serious.  Due to their severity and in the interest of discouraging this type of behavior, the punishments for felonies tend to be greater than the penalties for misdemeanor charges. Like misdemeanors, felonies are typically classified as either class A, B, C, or D according to the perceived seriousness of the offense.

A very limited number of crimes are classified as capital felonies. These are the only crimes in Cheshire which are punishable by the death penalty life in prison without the possibility of parole. A Cheshire criminal lawyer could mitigate the penalties that an individual may face.

How an Attorney Can Help

Because the court has wide discretion in many of the punishment schemes listed above, an attorney can be extremely useful to a defendant who wants to achieve a positive outcome to their criminal case. For example, a Class A misdemeanor conviction could result in up to a year in jail, but it does not have to result in any jail time at all. Even if such a case results in a conviction, it is possible for a Cheshire judge to order one year of probation, for example, rather than a jail sentence.

The outcome of a case depends on a myriad of factors, some of which are beyond the control of an attorney. However, the best option for any defendant in a criminal case is always to have as much control as possible, and the best way to ensure that is often to retain a Cheshire criminal lawyer throughout every stage of the case.

Consulting a Cheshire Criminal Attorney

You have a right to a fair trial and to have an attorney present during any interrogation and throughout any procedural processes related to a criminal charge. A Cheshire criminal lawyer could stand by your side and protect your rights.

In order to preserve your best chance at obtaining the most favorable outcome in your case given the circumstances, contact a Cheshire criminal attorney to discuss your case. Know your rights and your options—call today.