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You got arrested in New Jersey. You are facing criminal charges, and you have a court date looming. Do you need to hire a criminal defense lawyer, or is it safe to handle your situation on your own?
When facing criminal charges in New Jersey, it is extremely important to have experienced legal representation. All types of charges carry severe penalties, and a conviction can negatively impact many aspects of your life. Here are some examples of what can happen if you don’t hire a New Jersey criminal defense attorney to represent you:
You Won’t Know Which Defenses Are Available to You
While there are many potential defenses to criminal charges in New Jersey, you need to know which defenses are available in your particular case. You also need to know how to make these defenses effectively. Without a lawyer, you won’t be aware of what you can (and should) do to protect yourself from unnecessary consequences.
You Won’t Know if Police or Prosecutors Violated Your Rights
It is not unusual for police and prosecutors to violate New Jersey residents’ rights. If police or prosecutors violate your rights, this could provide you with a defense even if you committed a crime. But, if you do not have a comprehensive understanding of your rights, and if you don’t know how to prove a violation, you could easily get convicted even though you should be entitled to walk free.
You Could Get Convicted Based on Inadmissible Evidence
In criminal cases, evidence can be inadmissible for a variety of different reasons. However, to keep inadmissible proof out of your case, you need to raise the issue. Prosecutors will not voluntarily suppress incriminating evidence, and it is not the judge’s job to raise issues for you. To keep inadmissible evidence out of your criminal case, you are going to need an experienced New Jersey criminal defense attorney on your side.
You Could Get Convicted Based on a Mistake
Judges and jurors make mistakes. If you try to handle your criminal case on your own, one of these mistakes could lead to a conviction. A criminal defense attorney can identify mistakes during your case, raise them in court and use them to file an appeal if necessary.
You Will Miss Opportunities to Avoid a Conviction or Reduce Your Sentence
Are you eligible for pre-trial intervention (PTI)? Do you have grounds to seek a reduced sentence? Even if the prosecution has a strong case against you, there may still be opportunities for you to avoid a conviction or limit the consequences of your mistake. An attorney will be familiar with all of these options and will be able to help you make informed decisions about how best to handle your situation.
Talk to a New Jersey Criminal Defense Attorney in Confidence
If you have been charged with a crime in New Jersey, we strongly encourage you to speak with a New Jersey criminal defense attorney about your case. To schedule a confidential consultation at Helmer, Conley & Kasselman, P.A., call 877-435-6371 or tell us how we can reach you online today.
Over 20 attorneys at HCK have extensive experience in defending criminal cases as they were former assistant prosecutors and/or police officers for a combined total of over 600 years of law enforcement experience. You can find out more about them on our site, and you can call Managing Partner Ron Helmer on his cell phone at 609 685-0665.
