An argument can quickly get out of hand and lead to the police being called. Depending on what happened in the home and what those who are in the home tell the officers, it could lead to one or more of the occupants in the home being charged with a crime. When a person is facing a domestic violence charge, they need to contact a lawyer as soon as possible. The lawyer will do as much as possible to help mitigate the penalties the person is facing.
There are two general steps in a criminal case. The first is the discovery period and the second is the trial or plea deal. During the discovery period, the lawyer will look for evidence their client is innocent or that the charges should be lowered. This is the time when the lawyer tries to find a way to have the charges lowered or tries to find a way to get a better outcome for their client. If all of the evidence is going to lead to a guilty verdict, they might start to look into a plea deal instead of going to trial to help minimize some of the penalties their client is facing.
The second step is the trial or plea deal. This is the ending of the case and dictates what penalties the person receives. If the lawyer believes there’s a chance for a not-guilty verdict or the client insists on going to trial because they believe they’ll be found innocent, the trial can start. At the end of the trial is the verdict and, if the person is found guilty, the sentencing. If the lawyer believes the client is going to be found guilty, they might ask for a plea deal instead of a trial. In this situation, they bargain with the prosecutors to plead guilty and receive a lighter sentence.
If you’ve been arrested and charged with a crime like this, it’s important you contact a lawyer as soon as possible. They can help you through both of these general steps and do as much as possible to help you get a better outcome for your case. They can talk to you about whether a guilty verdict is almost guaranteed or if there’s a chance for you to get out of the situation without a conviction. Contact them today for help with your case.
