It’s happened. Maybe it’s a misdemeanor, maybe it’s a felony. Regardless, you have been arrested and you now have few options: no matter what you do, you’re going to be funneled through the criminal justice system.
You can’t change that. What you can change is the potential outcome of the legal proceedings that follow the initial arrest.
When do you have to go to court? Will you be found guilty or innocent? Will you enter a plea? Could your charges be reduced — or could they be dismissed altogether? And will you have an arrest record that follows you for life?
Being arrested is among the most traumatic events that can happen to a person. You are detained, likely placed into handcuffs, and taken to jail where all of your belongings are confiscated. An almost different language is spoken by nearly everyone you encounter. Fear, anxiety, and confusion flood your emotions and your judgment. This is the absolute worst time to be making critical decisions affecting your life — especially now within a justice system that makes a record of all you say and do from the moment you enter it.
At this point, it is perfectly normal to want your arrest — and the associated legal proceedings — to be resolved as quickly as possible. This can lead to a host of bad decisions, including self-representation or inadequate representation, affecting all that follows.
Your best outcome is dependent on the decisions you make immediately following an arrest. Even if you are highly educated or have some basic knowledge of our legal system, you are facing an uphill battle. Police, lawyers, and judges often speak and operate using their own language, one that’s foreign to most outsiders. Meanwhile, with the anxiety that comes with an arrest, your sound decision-making abilities are likely compromised.
Under our constitution, you are afforded two rights that are crucial to anyone after an arrest: the right to remain silent and the right to a lawyer. Choosing the right attorney is the most important thing you can do. It will affect every facet of your legal proceedings following an arrest.
WHAT EXACTLY DOES AN ATTORNEY DO?
Although it may feel like the end, it is actually just the beginning once an arrest or a formal charge has been brought by law enforcement.
When a person is arrested, they are technically accused of a crime. Following that, a district attorney’s office will file formal charges. This could be for an infraction, a misdemeanor, or a felony. Each charge carries its own sentencing consequences and possibilities. Depending on the nature of a case, there could be numerous hearings associated with it. These range from preliminary hearings to a final sentencing hearing if found guilty of a crime.
This is why an attorney becomes extremely important. Attorneys are highly trained in the legal system. They are educated and trained specifically to provide crucial legal advice at each turn once a defendant has entered the justice system. They will share opinions with you and represent you before the courts.
Depending on their knowledge, experience, and other factors, they will have a tremendous impact on the outcome of your case. Each hearing represents another opportunity for an attorney to help you be better positioned for the final outcome of your case. A good defense attorney can easily make the difference between a charge being filed by the prosecutor as a felony or a misdemeanor, a longer sentence or a shorter sentence, time incarcerated, or time spent in a diversionary program with community service.
WHY CAN’T I JUST REPRESENT MYSELF? I’M INNOCENT (OR MY CHILD IS INNOCENT).
It’s simple: unintended consequences. That’s why it’s so important to be proactive and seek counsel, especially when emotions run high. You may think you have nothing to hide — and this may be true. But because of the technical nature of the criminal justice system, you can still put yourself in legal jeopardy. Especially since each case varies so widely that generalized knowledge (like that from a Google search alone) may do more harm than good.
As we outline in our Proactive Approach page, sometimes talking will avoid charges, and sometimes talking will make it worse. Don’t make the mistake of making this call on your own. If you want us with you during pivotal moments such as the initial interview (interrogation) with law enforcement, we will be there and make sure that you do not answer a question that can hurt you. For more information about what happens during an investigation, keep reading here.
If you’re looking for representation for a loved one, it can be a particularly emotional time, especially if it’s for your child. Contacting a juvenile defense attorney as soon as possible is vital for getting the specialized knowledge and training necessary to properly advocate for the minor in question. The ramifications of trouble at school or with law enforcement can be mitigated with a proper defense. At Proper Defense, juvenile representation is a major focus of our practice. I personally have committed over 50% of my practice to working with juveniles and attending seminars focused on juvenile representation.
HOW DO I KNOW IF AN ATTORNEY IS THE RIGHT PERSON TO REPRESENT ME?
The attorney-client relationship is the most important piece of your legal puzzle by far. Ultimately, it should give you peace of mind and sound guidance.
As our philosophy states, this opens the door to a very special relationship between two people, one unlike any other professional or personal association. Confidence and trust are foundational pillars. This is the only relationship that involves truly secret communication. An attorney takes what you say to the grave. With that confidence comes trust and connection between an attorney and a client, with no barriers.
With this in mind, the qualities you should look for in an attorney becomes simple: do you feel they are honest? Do they show integrity? Are you comfortable they have the knowledge and experience to adequately represent you in court proceedings?
A good attorney will provide you with practical, sound, judgment-free advice and representation. Read more about our six pillars of service here.
WHAT WILL IT COST ME?
Under our Constitution, if you cannot afford your own legal counsel, one will be provided to you through the justice system, a public defender. Because you don’t have a choice in your representation with this option, your proper defense is left to chance. Many have gone this route because of the fear of costly legal fees, to their detriment. Fortunately, expensive attorney fees are a thing of the past with the right firm.
At Proper Defense, we know that the last thing you need is another bad surprise. Too often this happens when seeking a defense attorney, especially in big (already expensive) cities.
Among the billing practices that make us different, we offer fixed prices that are tailored to your needs and, most importantly, your budget. We don’t charge for hidden overhead expenses that can really add up, like secretarial time, word processing, employee overtime, online legal research, internal copying, faxing, and local or long-distance calls.
We have found that an agreed-upon fixed fee provides the ultimate peace of mind to our clients who seek certainty as to the costs of a particular transaction or isolated legal issue.
GET THE SUPPORT YOU NEED WITH PROPER DEFENSE
You deserve the peace of mind that comes with a rock-solid relationship and a strategic plan that addresses the charges you face. Together we will help ensure that your future will not be compromised by this case.
For a true advocate that you can trust, in a judgment-free zone, contact Proper Defense Law Corporation today. For a FREE consultation in the Fresno area, call (559) 825-3800. You can reach us at our Beverly Hills location by calling (424) 284-4066. You can also schedule an appointment online on our Contact Us page. It gets better with Proper Defense, we promise.
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