Some people may be at the wrong place at the wrong time, and they find themselves getting charged for crimes and facing serious consequences. Know more about how to handle your first criminal charge on this site here. It can often be a great idea to consult criminal lawyers and assess the entire situation and case. They will also advise you on how you can proceed with the overall process that will benefit you in the long run.
What Exactly Does a Lawyer Do?
The attorneys in Sydney will represent you into two main categories. These are felonies and misdemeanors. The misdemeanors are a lesser charge than felonies, and if the court finds one to be guilty, it can lead to imprisonment that can last for a year. On the other hand, felonies can be more serious, and if you are found guilty, you can even face the death penalty depending on the state's laws.
When Do You Need Legal Advice?
Since the crimes can end up in a prison sentence, here are some situations where you may need legal advice the most:
Misdemeanor Examples
Small and petty thefts
Acts of prostitution
Intoxication in Public
Minor Assaults
Improper and Disorderly Conduct
Trespassing
Vandalism
Reckless Driving
Marijuana or Drug Possession
Categories that Fall Under Felonies
First, Second, or Third-Degree Murder
Kidnap for Ransom
Treason
Any kind of Fraud
Burglary/Robbery
Arson
Possession of illegal drugs caught too many times
Distribution of illegal drugs
Grand Larceny
Note that the list is not inclusive, and others are in place to protect the people in Sydney. You can ask your criminal lawyer for a more comprehensive list, especially if you are charged with something that is not on the list.
Why Use the Help of Lawyers in the First Place?
1. Prevent Worry & Stress
The laws in places like Sydney are often complex and full of misunderstood words. It will take years of training and experience to understand everything, and when you use the help of a criminal attorney, you better understand the things that you are facing.
You will have a more in-depth knowledge of the laws regardless if it's about the Crimes Act, the Evidence Act, Criminal Procedure Act, Criminal Codes, Misuse of Drugs, Sentencing Act, or Road Traffic Act. An expert will save you a lot of time and stress, and you won't have to disrupt your personal life by working through these things.
2. Decrease Chances of Risks
Many people may think that going to an attorney is a costly option. However, you will be spending more, and you may even get jail time if you don't know what to do next. Some of the risks that you are exposed to are the following:
You were found guilty when you're innocent
Incorrectly charged or falsely accused of something you didn't do
Being sent to a prison or correctional facility when you shouldn't in the first place
Disadvantages of job applications because you have criminal records
Termination of jobs
Being disqualified from holding drivers' licenses
An experienced attorney will help you avoid all these pitfalls and outcomes. The stakes are high, and you need to get out of a difficult situation as fast as you can. The costs are always worth it, and the initial consultation is usually free. Getting legal advice is also one of your rights in making a defense for your case.
3. You Have Support During Police Interrogations
One of the most critical times when you needed the most support is during police interviews. These interrogations are meant to rattle you, and you may even make false confessions even if you didn't do anything wrong. If this is your first time to have a police interview and you don't know your rights, it's important to have someone who can help you answer the questions. The attorneys will also learn how to answer the questions being thrown your way.
4. Present Application for Bail in a Proper Way
For many people, it's unbearable to stay in jail or custody while they are awaiting trial. The solution is to get bail as fast as possible, and you must do the paperwork and finalize everything before presenting it to court.
Know that if the court refused to give you bail, you can't apply again unless the judge sees a change of circumstances. The right lawyers from sites like www.sydneycriminaldefenceandtrafficlawyers.com.au/ will get this application right the first time, and you won't have to worry about anything. The professionals will help present your application, and they will argue on your behalf on why you should be released from jail.
5. Correctly Present All the Evidence
In a trial, presenting the evidence and making sure that it follows the rules is complex. An example in court is that an unrepresented person may ask something that does not comply with the court's rules. The cross-examination of witnesses may be met with the prosecutor's objection, and the court may deem that one could not continue in this type of questioning.
An excellent lawyer knows what to ask the witnesses, and they will know how to frame the right words. They will present legal arguments that follow all the court rules, and they will ask relevant questions that are allowed. They have strategic cross-examination plans that can tip the scales in your favor.
6. Identify Weaknesses of the Opposition
An experienced attorney can look and see deficiencies and weaknesses in the prosecution. The good ones will even start to question the prosecution before everything goes to trial. During the preparation process, some can already identify inadmissible evidence that the prosecutors are not allowed to present during the trial.
7. Helps You Avoid Prison Time
If you are pleading guilty after conviction and everything goes to a sentencing hearing, your attorney can help you skip imprisonment. They understand the sentencing law better, and they can apply this to your case. The right attorney will present pleas in mitigation that will always result in your advantage. You can better safeguard yourself against undesirable results if you engage a criminal lawyer in Sydney to represent you.