If you’ve been charged with a crime, it’s in your best interest to hire a lawyer–especially if you face a jail or prison sentence. Most people cannot handle a criminal case on their own, and only about 1% of defendants elect to represent themselves in court. Below, you will learn why it is advantageous to hire a Criminal Lawyer in Bolingbrook.
Lawyers Know the Law, and How to Apply It
It is possible to represent yourself in court, but it is difficult because of the differences between theory and reality in criminal law. Our country’s laws define crimes, set punishments and detail courtroom procedure, and many defendants think they can handle their own defense if they just “read the book”. However, the complexity of criminal law means that one cannot ready an adequate defense by reading books; an experienced attorney knows the law, and can apply it to your specific situation.
The Prosecutor’s Powers
Prosecutors have a great deal of discretion when it comes to filing criminal charges, and that discretion largely determines what happens in court. An act that appears to constitute a certain type of crime can be ‘framed’ to represent another type of criminal act. The statute books set forth penalties for crimes, but that fixed sentence can be negotiated with the help of a criminal lawyer in Bolingbrook.
Pressure from the Community
The roles played by politics and community pressure in a criminal case should not be underestimated. Judges come up for re-election, prosecutors want a good record, and police expect charges to occur. The public expects the system to be tough on crime as well. A lawyer in your area will be familiar with these aspects of your local culture, and they can work within its confines to achieve the best outcome.
How an Attorney can Help
Regardless of a defendant’s intelligence, criminal justice makes it hard for them to represent themselves competently. Every case is different, and specialists are the only people who can assess a case’s particulars and provide the representation a defendant needs to receive justice.
