Your criminal defense strategy is the way that you provide your side of the case to the court. It’s your opportunity to challenge whatever the prosecutor is claiming. That’s why you need to have a solid understanding of the direction your defense will take as early as possible.
It is easy to forget that the burden to prove that you committed a crime is on the prosecutor. Your defense just has to give the jury reasonable doubt about your guilt. We know that this might seem a bit challenging, but there are often many possible options for a defense that can poke holes in the prosecutor’s case.
One thing that you need to look into is the manner in which your defense strategy is presented. It must be fully factual, but the way that information is presented might have an impact on how a juror perceives it. As defense attorneys, this is always on the back of our minds — even if you’re considering other options, like a plea deal.
We recognize that many criminal cases are resolved through the use of plea deals. These provide an alternative to trial, but they are only appropriate in specific cases — and we don’t encourage defendants to take a plea unless it is genuinely in their best interests.
In exchange for your plea in an agreed-upon manner, the prosecution will usually recommend a specific sentence. This might mean that you don’t have to deal with the harsh sentence that was initially possible.
If you’ve been charged with a crime, we’re here to help you evaluate all your options and guide you throughout the process.