Criminal defense attorneys are exactly what they sound like. They are lawyers who represent people accused of crimes. If you have been charged with a felony, you must have a criminal defense attorney to defend you. Criminal defense lawyers will defend you and work to achieve the best possible outcome for your case.
Paul B. Blatz exercises exclusively criminal law. At Blatz Law Firm, we have helped countless Californians complete their criminal cases. Hiring an experienced Ojai criminal defense attorney like Paul gives you the best chance of having your charges reduced, dropped, or even denied. Visit their website www.blatzlawfirm.com to know more about the firm and what other laws Paul is practicing in. In this article, we tell you everything you ever wanted to know about criminal lawyers… and more!
What exactly do criminal defense lawyers do?
Criminal defense lawyers often have very complicated jobs. Each case is different and requires different tactics depending on the circumstances surrounding the case. The job requires more than just going to court and arguing on your behalf.
Before a criminal lawyer like Paul B. Blatz takes on a new case, he first schedules a consultation with you. During this consultation, you will discuss the details of your case and provide your lawyer with as much information as possible. You can then estimate the penalties that may be due to your offense. They will then tell you what they can do to help you. Then you need to decide if they meet your needs. If you decide to hire them, they will start to work on strengthening your defenses.
To build his case, lawyer Paul will probably have to:
Review the discovery;
Develop your defense theory;
Interview relevant witnesses;
Choose the witnesses you want to appear in court;
Perform legal research in similar cases
Plan and hold meetings to discuss details of the case;
Gather and examine the evidence in your favor;
Give you legal advice
Keep expert witnesses, if necessary
Conduct feasibility studies and interview samples
Write prejudicial and judicial petitions;
Oral arguments
Video conferencing with clients and families;
Make the decision to dismiss your case before the trial begins, if applicable.
An experienced and hardworking criminal defense lawyer will do all of this work before your trial. In the event that the prosecution refuses to close the case and believes they have sufficient evidence against you, it is likely that your case will be tried.
If you decide to admit your guilt, your lawyer will fight to find the best possible solution for you. To emphasize, this is where experience and skill make the difference.
Finally, once the trial is fixed, the defense lawyer will participate in the selection of the jury. They will then fight their defense against the jury and work for the best possible result.
Types of criminal lawyers
In criminal law, there are two types of lawyers. There are prosecutors and lawyers. Prosecuting attorneys work for the municipal, state, or federal government to prosecute defendants in court. Defense lawyers work on the other side. These lawyers defend the accused. They work to prove your innocence or to mitigate your accusation.
Criminal defense lawyers work on four different types of crimes. These include:
Minor offenses
These are considered a “misdemeanor”.
Violations are punishable by fines or imprisonment for less than one year.
Examples of offenses include
Small robbery
Public intoxication
Vandalism
Peach
Simple attack
Other minor offenses
Serious crimes
These crimes are much more serious
Serious crimes can be punished with at least one year in prison.
Examples include
Removal
Sex crimes
Criminal fire
Attack
Fight against drugs
white band crimes
Flight
Flight
Murder
New crimes
They are also called “interim violations” or “incomplete violations.”
A fledgling crime is planning or attempting to commit another crime.
Examples include intent, solicitation, and conspiracy.
Strict liability
To convict a felony, the prosecution does not have to demonstrate intent, knowledge, recklessness, or negligence.
This classification does not take into account any intention or state of mind at the time of the offense.
Examples include:
Possession violations
Child abuse
Most criminal defense attorneys deal with many different types of crimes. They can help you understand where your accusations fall and then work to help you defend them.
