The Importance of Having a Criminal Defense Attorney on Your Side

Whether you have been charged with a crime, are under investigation or are being questioned by law enforcement, the first thing you should do is speak to an experienced criminal defense attorney. Criminal cases are complicated and can involve many different legal strategies and issues, so it’s important to have a knowledgeable attorney on your side.

An effective criminal defense requires a detailed working knowledge of statute law, and an ability to understand it and use it correctly in a case. Criminal attorneys are also expected to have a deep understanding of the case’s facts and circumstances, and they must be familiar with the evidence that supports those facts.

There are many different types of crimes, and each one has its own set of elements that must be met for a conviction. Criminal defenses are designed to cancel out the intent element of most crimes, or to show that the defendant didn’t commit the crime at all. For example, a defense to murder could include showing that the accused tried to abandon or withdraw from the crime before it was committed. The defendant would need to prove that this was a voluntary action, and that they went as far as to notify the police of the potential crime prior to its commission.

Another common defense is entrapment, which involves showing that the government induced you to commit the crime. Hollywood movies such as The Godfather, Goodfellas and The Departed often portray the mafia entangling people in criminal activity through coercion.