Being arrested and charged with assault can be life-changing. Depending on the assault and charge, you might face fines, a criminal record, and even jail time. There are no guarantees that an assault lawyer can reduce your charges or have them dropped. However, there’s a chance they can impact your case in some of the following ways:
Weaken the Prosecutor’s Case
The average assault attorney will work with their clients to help them navigate the legal system and hopefully get the outcome they desire. At a minimum, they set out to weaken the prosecutor’s case. The weaker the case, the more doubt can be cast on your guilt. Sometimes, this can make it harder for judges and juries to find you guilty.
Assault attorneys can attempt to weaken the prosecutor’s case in many ways, such as identifying flaws in the chain of custody. If your lawyer can identify examples of possible evidence mishandling, it might be harder for prosecutors to link evidence to you.
Bolster Your Defense
Accusations of assault aren’t always straightforward. Multiple people can be involved, and it’s not always clear whether an assault was carried out to defend other people, property, or themselves. Some of the best assault lawyers will gather witness testimonies and evidence to strengthen your version of events. The more convincing and accurate this version of events is, the harder it might be for a judge to find you guilty of your alleged crimes.
Secure the Shortest Sentence
When there is enough evidence to prove you were guilty of assault, such as being caught on camera, your lawyer likely won’t try to prove you didn’t commit the crime. Instead, their ultimate goal is often to secure the shortest possible sentence.
What this sentence is can depend on the seriousness of the assault, whether you used a weapon, where the assault happened, and other factors. Sometimes, lawyers can successfully secure a fine or a 30-day or less jail sentence.
Reducing the Charges
All criminal charges are serious, but some are undoubtedly more serious than others. Some assault lawyers can positively impact these charges by having them downgraded to something less serious.
For example, someone charged with felony menacing might be able to have their charges reduced to misdemeanor menacing. Sometimes, they can do this through plea bargains or when an attorney proves that the prosecutor doesn’t have enough evidence to secure the more severe charge.
Having the Charges Dismissed
Being charged with assault doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be convicted. This can be especially true when you have a highly regarded assault lawyer on your side. Many competent lawyers can challenge evidence, gather their own evidence to bolster your defense, identify prosecutor case weaknesses, and protect your rights. Sometimes, these steps result in charges being dropped, especially when there’s insufficient evidence to prove you were guilty of the crime.
Hiring an assault lawyer to guide you through the legal process might be more impactful than you think. While there are no guarantees you’ll get the outcome you want, the best assault lawyers will fight to secure the shortest sentence, reduce your charges, or have your charges dismissed altogether.