A criminal case involves any type of allegation that falls under a crime statute. There are many steps that a criminal case will go through to get resolved. If you are charged with a criminal offense, it is crucial to hire an experienced attorney that understands the law and knows how to fight for your rights. An experienced lawyer can spot weaknesses in the prosecution’s case and develop a strong defense strategy that may result in having the charges against you dismissed.
The first step in a criminal case is the arraignment. At the arraignment, a judge reads the criminal complaint and advises the defendant of the charges against them. During this hearing, the defendant will tell the court whether they plead guilty or not guilty to the crime. If the defendant pleads guilty, they skip to the Sentencing step. If they plead not guilty, they will proceed to the Trial step. At the arraignment, the defendant is also able to apply for assigned counsel if they cannot afford one. The court will assign an attorney to them if they can prove that they are financially eligible by filing a financial affidavit.
If your attorney notices that there were any violations during the investigation, they can file motions to suppress evidence, which may be admissible at the trial. This includes claiming that law enforcement officers violated your constitutional rights during an illegal search or seizure of evidence. This could make key evidence that would otherwise be admissible in court, unavailable to the prosecutor and may even lead to a dismissal of all charges against you.