The Benefits of Hiring a Criminal Defense Attorney

Looking at a criminal record check (or even an application for a job) can be scary, especially if you have been arrested before. You might wonder what the future holds. Will you be able to find work? What about school? Will your arrest show up on background checks forever? What does this mean for your future? The best thing to do is to hire an experienced attorney in Baldwin County, Alabama as soon as possible. Here’s why: An experienced lawyer can help minimize the consequences of your arrest and protect your rights moving forward. Not only that but working with a criminal defense attorney in Baldwin County may also enable you to reduce or avoid any mandatory minimum sentences, which would give you more control over the outcome of your case going forward. In this post, we’ll explain what a criminal defense attorney can do for you and how they can help. 

Protecting your constitutional rights during an arrest 

When there is an arrest and the police have probable cause to hold you, the authorities are required to read you your Miranda rights. This means that the arresting officers must inform you of your right to remain silent, your right to legal counsel, and the fact that any statements you make can and will be used against you in court. Unfortunately, a lot of officers are not fully trained in reading Miranda rights, so they make mistakes. If you don’t understand your rights, you may unintentionally waive them, which means the police can use any statements you make against you in court. If you’re not sure what your rights are, a criminal defense attorney in Baldwin County can help. They can also help you understand your constitutional rights during an arrest and any subsequent encounters with law enforcement. 

Helping you avoid mandatory minimum sentencing 

Many people don’t realize that a DUI can result in mandatory minimum sentencing. For example, if you are charged and convicted of a first DUI in Alabama, you are facing a mandatory minimum sentence of one year in jail. This doesn’t mean that you will serve a year, but it does indicate that the judge must sentence you at least one year in jail, even if you have no previous criminal record and your lawyer can argue for a lesser sentence. Because mandatory minimum sentences are determined by the state and not the judge, the only way to avoid them is by reducing or eliminating the charges against you through a plea agreement. A criminal defense attorney in Baldwin County can help you negotiate a plea agreement that may eliminate mandatory minimum sentencing but will also prevent you from having a permanent criminal record. 

Negotiating a plea agreement 

If your case goes to trial, the prosecutor will have all the power. They’ll decide what charges to file against you, the amount of bail (if any), and what sentence they want the judge to impose. A criminal defense attorney in Baldwin County can help you negotiate a plea agreement. A plea agreement is simply a contract between you, your attorney, and the prosecutor. You may be wondering: If a plea agreement is a contract, then why don’t we just go to court instead? The answer is that a plea agreement is an agreement made outside of court. It’s a promise between you and your attorney. The prosecutor doesn’t get to sign the agreement. That’s why it’s important to hire a criminal defense attorney in Baldwin County who can help you negotiate a plea agreement outside of court while protecting your rights. 

Protecting your job and educational opportunities 

If you are charged with a DUI or another criminal offense, the court may issue an Order of Protection against you. This order can prevent you from holding certain jobs, obtaining certain licenses (including a driver’s license), and even attending certain schools. A criminal defense attorney in Baldwin County can help you fight any Order of Protection that has been issued against you. They can also help you obtain an Order of Protection against the person who you believe is a danger to you. If you are at risk of losing your job or educational opportunities due to your arrest, contact a criminal defense attorney in Baldwin County as soon as possible. They can help you obtain an Order of Protection against the person who you believe is a danger to you. This order will prevent them from coming near you or communicating with you. It can also protect you from losing your job or educational opportunities due to your arrest. 

Hiring a criminal defense attorney can help protect your rights 

Even if you have no criminal record, hiring a criminal defense attorney in Baldwin County can help protect your rights moving forward. If you are arrested for DUI or another crime, the police will ask you to sign a document known as an “Implied Consent” or “Implied Consent Waiver.” This is a promise that you will submit to a blood draw or a chemical test to determine your blood alcohol content. You don’t have to sign it and shouldn’t sign it without first consulting with a criminal defense attorney in Baldwin County. If you don’t sign the paper, the police can obtain a warrant to obtain a blood sample from an outside facility. This can result in a delay while they obtain the warrant. By signing the paper, you are waiving your right to a prompt blood test, which may or may not affect the results. You also waive your right to a DNA test if arrested, which would normally be used to exclude you as a suspect. Your DNA would be entered into a database and could be used to help solve future crimes.