Most people know that a misdemeanor charge is less serious than a felony, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t fight if you’re being charged with a misdemeanor. Although the penalties are less severe, you can still go to jail and get big fines with a misdemeanor conviction. If you’re being accused of a crime, no matter how minor the charges may seem, here are some of the best reasons to get a lawyer and fight.
Sometimes a lawyer can get your charges lessened or dropped
If you’re considering just pleading guilty to get things over with, thinking you don’t need to bother with an attorney, that’s a mistake. No matter what you think the prosecution has against you, and regardless of whether or not you are guilty of the crime you’re being accused of committing, simply having an attorney can lessen the severity of your sentence. For example, if you’re facing a DWI charge in Texas, there’s a possibility you could end up doing jail time. However, a skilled defense attorney may be able to get your charges reduced or help you avoid jail time by getting you probation instead.
Each person’s case outcome will depend on their specific situation, but it’s common for criminal defense attorneys to get their clients’ charges either lessened or dropped entirely. It all depends on a variety of circumstances, but this is worth noting. It’s also the best reason to make sure you get a defense attorney and don’t try to navigate your case alone.
Misdemeanors can lead to jail time
If you’re under the impression that a misdemeanor conviction can only result in probation and a fine, that’s not the case. In Texas, for example, a Class A misdemeanor conviction can put you in jail for up to one year. A Class B misdemeanor conviction carries a penalty of up to 180 days in jail. Class C misdemeanor convictions are the only misdemeanors that do not come with jail penalties.
If you’re charged with a misdemeanor, and it looks like you can’t get your case dismissed, there’s a chance you’ll be given some amount of jail time. If the judge decides to give you the maximum penalty, you can count on spending a significant amount of time in jail. The maximum jail time varies by state, but it can be a year or more. However when you hire a lawyer to fight your charges, they’ll work hard to get you the least amount of jail time possible. Even if your lawyer can only reduce your jail sentence by a month, it’s still worth fighting. You don’t want to spend even ten minutes in jail, so getting your sentence reduced by a month is worth the effort.
Your attorney can get your fines reduced
In addition to getting less jail time, an attorney can also get your fines reduced. For example, if you’re charged with a crime that carries up to $5,000 in fines, and the judge decides to give you the maximum, your attorney might be able to negotiate your fine down to $2,000 or less. How much it will get dropped will depend on the circumstances in your case, but this is common.
Fighting your charges isn’t about guilt or innocence
It doesn’t matter if you’re guilty or innocent. If you don’t fight your charges because you’re guilty anyway, you’ll just end up with bigger fines and more time spent in jail.
Fight your charges, but not without a lawyer
People who represent themselves in court almost never win, so don’t let that be your strategy. The judge won’t feel sorry for you and dismiss your case. Instead, you will be held to the same standards as all attorneys, and that will be your downfall. No matter how simple you believe your case is, there’s nothing simple about the legal process. What appears to be cut and dried on your end will end up being complex in the courtroom. Keep in mind that the prosecution is going to do everything possible to get you convicted and serve the maximum penalties. You don’t stand a fighting chance without an attorney.
Always hire an attorney to fight your charges
If you don’t fight your misdemeanor charges, you’ll be giving up too soon. The best course of action you can take is to get a lawyer right away and let them fight for you in the courtroom. You don’t have to do anything but show up, follow directions, and listen to your attorney’s advice. You’ll have to go to court and face the judge anyway, so you may as well get legal representation and fight your charges.
