How To Beat Violent Crime Charges

145

Dealing with violent crime charges can be frustrating and daunting. If you sustain a conviction, you can face some serious financial and legal consequences, such as payment of damages and jail time. For this reason, it’s essential to know what to do from the moment you’re charged with a violent crime. If you want to get out of the said legal trouble and take your normal life back, you need to defend yourself from this charge to obtain a more favorable judgment.   

Read on to learn how to beat violent crime charges.

  1. Get Familiar With Your Legal Rights  

Knowing your legal rights is crucial to beat violent crime charges against you. Under the law, individuals accused of committing a serious crime, like assault, aggravated robbery, or homicide, have rights that must be respected.

For example, if you’re under custodial investigation by the police authorities, you should know that you have the right to remain silent or not respond to incriminating questions. You have the right to be represented by a competent and independent legal counsel of your choice. You also have the right to a speedy and fair criminal trial.   

By knowing your rights, you can avoid doing things that may jeopardize your chances of getting the charges dismissed.   

2. Create A Solid Defense Strategy  

Under the criminal justice system, individuals accused of violent crimes are innocent until proven guilty. Although the burden of proof rests upon the prosecution, it doesn’t necessarily mean you’re losing the case for good. As the accused, you also have the right to prove the presumption of innocence by applying a solid defense strategy.   

Generally, preparing your defenses can be a great way to clear your name against certain violent crime charges. Some common defenses can include: 

  • Self-Defense: 

In violent crimes, such as assault and homicide, self-defense can be one of the effective defenses you can raise to beat the charges against you. Typically, self-defense is also known as justification. It means that you, as the defendant, are justified in using force to defend yourself. This situation usually happens when you reasonably believe that the physical force exerted is necessary to protect yourself against another person’s imminent use of force.   

For example, if you’re charged with homicide, your act can be considered accused by asserting self-defense as a defense. If you can prove that the killing was necessary to prevent an impending or actual threat, you can beat a violent crime charge against you. Furthermore, if you want to know more about what is justifiable homicide, you can check out some legal resources online.   

  • Lack Of Evidence 

As mentioned, the prosecution should overcome the presumption of innocence in favor of the accused by establishing guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Typically, evidence to prove guilt beyond reasonable is one of the standards of evidence necessary to affirm a criminal conviction. It requires a higher degree of certainty than something which rests on some probabilities.   

However, if you believe they don’t have adequate evidence to do so, you can raise a lack of evidence as a defense to potentially get the charges against you dismissed as quickly as possible.   

3. Work With A Criminal Defense Attorney  

Unless you’re an expert in handling criminal cases, you need to hire a dedicated criminal defense attorney to help you beat violent crime charges. They can use their knowledge, experience, and expertise to ensure a more desirable outcome for your case. For instance, a legal representative by your side can help you in the following ways: 

  • Assessing the details of your charges to determine your potential legal options; 
  • Negotiating plea bargains with the prosecutors; 
  • Explaining the advantages and disadvantages of going to trial and pleading guilty or not guilty;
  • Arguing about being released on very low bail.

4. Gather Proper Documentation  

Beating violent crime charges doesn’t come easy. Aside from seeking legal assistance from an experienced criminal defense attorney, it’s also essential to collect proper documentation to refute the evidence submitted by the prosecution. Your evidence should be adequate to weaken the prosecution’s case and tilt the scales of justice in your favor.    

To gather the evidence and other forms of documentation you need, conducting an intensive investigation can be advantageous. With the help of an attorney, you should obtain forensic evidence, statements from the witnesses, and other records that can help strengthen your defense strategy and improve your likelihood of winning.    

Bottom Line  

Generally speaking, the steps you take after having been charged with a violent crime might have a crucial impact on the outcome of your situation. Therefore, if you want to defend your case and beat the charges against you effectively, it’s best to keep the information mentioned above in mind. The more you know what to do from the beginning, the better you can navigate the situation with the best possible result. 

Comments

comments