What to Knoiw About Criminal Defense Law
Crime comes in many forms, and many of them involve one or more victim parties, such as someone who was assaulted, injured, robbed, or sexually abused for one reason or another. It may also be noted that in many cases, the instigator and the victim knew each other beforehand; random attacks are not necessarily the norm. When a person is facing criminal charges such as for a DUI, drug possession, domestic violence, or the like, then they can turn to criminal law firms and find attorneys who can represent their case when the client goes to court. While no particular outcome to a criminal law case can be guaranteed here, a criminal defense lawyer will do whatever they can to have their client’s charges changed to lesser ones or dropped entirely, and try to negotiate an outcome that every party involved can be satisfied with.
Drinking and Driving
This is a quite common case where criminal law comes into play. Millions of Americans are on the road every day, and fortunately, most of them are safe and responsible about how they drive. But there are also many drunk drivers, and they cause countless car crashes and personal injury cases every year. A drunk driver has impaired coordination, judgment, and reflexes while driving, and this makes them a reckless and sloppy driver who is likely to cause or get into an auto wreck. They may speed through red lights and stop signs, weave between lanes, and hit property, other cars, or pedestrians. Also, take note that just the act of driving drunk is a serious crime, even if no one was hurt and no crash took place. Driving drunk typically involved a BAC (blood alcohol content) of 0.08% or higher, but bear in mind that some states have different thresholds. Driving “buzzed” or tipsy is just as dangerous, and highly discouraged. The only truly safe route is to not drink at all before driving.
Suppose someone is facing DUI charges, and must appear in a criminal law court later on? The accused has a better chance of a favorable outcome if they look around and find criminal defense law firms, and many of them specialized in drunk driving cases in particular (since they are so common). The attorney there may be consulted (this might or might not incur a fee) and the accused can hire a lawyer who is to their liking. Now, that attorney will use their knowledge of criminal law to defend their client in court, and try to have some charges dropped or changed to less serious ones. What might happen? Nothing can be said for sure, but in some cases, the defendant may have a sentence of jail time changed to a fine, and have an ignition interlock device and breathalyzer installed in their car as a compromise. It may also help if the defendant has no previous record of criminal activity, or if no one was injured during the drunk driving incident.
Drug Possession Charges
What constitutes drug possession? Often, drug possession means the accused has illegal substances on their person, in their residence or vehicle, or in a backpack or similar carrying item, for example. Or, they simply have total physical control over the drug’s location and use. A related crime is “intent to deliver,” when it is clear that the drug’s possessor meant to give it to someone else, such as a drug deal. Such a crime is strictly illegal in all 50 states. Take note that even delivering legal prescription drugs to sell may constitute “intent to deliver.” Some accused of such a crime may turn to criminal law firms for help during court, and a good lawyer will know all of the local laws for drug possession charges. That lawyer should also work with local police, prosecutors, and the court system to make sure the defendant’s rights are observed.
As for the court itself, no outcome can be guaranteed, but first-time offenders may hire a lawyer who negotiate with the court for relatively light penalties, such as fines, community service, or others. What is more, someone accused of such drug-related crimes usually has the right to consult a lawyer before answering police questions, often by phone.
