Loris Criminal Defense Lawyer

Loris Criminal Defense Attorney

When people find themselves on the defensive against the criminal prosecution system, it can be daunting. It’s often not as bleak as it may seem. There are more ways to defend yourself in court than you might believe. However, to give yourself every shot at avoiding the worst, you will need someone on your team who has a strong understanding of all the ways you might mount a defense for yourself. At Axelrod & Associates, P.A., we have the experience and skill that you want in your corner.

You Need a Defense Lawyer

Being charged with a crime in Loris, SC, doesn’t mean you are guilty of a crime. However, the only way that’s true is if you can defend yourself against a guilty verdict. The prosecution wouldn’t have charged you with a crime if they didn’t believe they had a case they could win. Your greatest chance at winning your case is an experienced, skilled lawyer who can pick apart the prosecution’s case. The defense in a criminal case only needs to convince the jury that there is reasonable doubt about the prosecution’s case. This is often done by a lawyer who can anticipate the prosecution’s arguments and prepare to address them.

A criminal defense lawyer will start by investigating your case. The sooner you can get in contact with us at Axelrod & Associates, P.A., the sooner we can begin investigating your case and preparing your defense. This is important because the prosecution will likely begin their investigations immediately as well. As they are putting together their case, we will be anticipating what they are going to argue and preparing defenses against that case, giving you a strong chance at winning your case.

The Defense Lawyer You Need

When you are looking for a Loris criminal defense lawyer, it’s important that you find someone you trust. Your defense may be one of the most important moments in your life. At Axelrod & Associates, P.A., we treat our clients fairly and let them know what they are up against and where the case stands. We make sure they know that we will fight for them as firmly as they would for themselves.

Another important trait you need in a defense lawyer is being detail-oriented. Often, a defense case comes down to minor details. Defense lawyers can recognize things as subtle as a flaw in procedure, a violation of rights, or a small element of the prosecution’s case that doesn’t hold up when examined a little more closely. We make sure to examine our clients’ cases from every vantage point that we can. If there’s an angle that can offer a possible defense, it’s our intention to find it. From drug charges to murder, we’ve got experience defending a range of criminal charges.

If You’re Arrested

You can help your defense a lot in the moments surrounding an arrest. In particular, there are three things to remember:

• Keep Calm – An arrest can often be an emotionally charged situation. Giving in to those emotions, though, is not going to serve you well in the long run. If you behave erratically or angrily, the prosecution may attempt to use that against you. Instead, you should always quietly go along with the process and let your lawyer put up the defense for you at the appropriate time.
• Keep Quiet – You have a right to remain silent. Use it. Police are trained in all kinds of interrogation techniques and will try to keep you talking in hopes that you slip up. They are taught to try and get a confession as quickly as possible, preferably before your lawyer arrives. You need to make sure you don’t give them anything to work with. To ensure nothing is used against you, keep quiet and tell them you will say nothing until your lawyer arrives.
• Call Your Lawyer – Call us as soon as you are allowed to contact your lawyer. We can help make sure you don’t do anything that could lead to you incriminating yourself. We know what your rights are and will see to it that they are respected. When you’re arrested, your defense begins immediately, and we will be ready to start building your case.

Criminal Defense Strategies

Defense in a criminal case can be two-fold in nature. One part of the strategy is to get a verdict of “not guilty” or to get the charges thrown out. In other cases where a “guilty” verdict is given, your lawyer can make a case for a lighter sentencing, given the context. There are several means of defense a lawyer may rely on, including:

• Violation of Rights – It’s possible that in the process of your arrest, the arresting officers failed to behave properly and violated your rights. This can be grounds for a dismissal of your case.
• Violations of Procedure – Procedure is an important part of police investigations, particularly when evidence is involved. If your lawyer discovers procedural problems related to a key piece of evidence, that can lead to it being thrown out of the case.
• Statute of Limitations – Once a certain amount of time has passed, you can’t be charged for a crime, but each crime has its own statute of limitations.
• Duress and coercion – In some scenarios, a person only commits a crime because they were coerced or forced into doing so. In those cases, it’s possible that the court may opt for a lighter sentence.
• Insanity – Occasionally, a crime is committed by someone who had a brief moment of insanity or mental incapacitation, which may be taken into consideration during sentencing.

FAQs

Q: Should I Get a Court-Appointed Lawyer?

A: The truth is, the court-appointed lawyer is there as a last resort for defendants. They are often overworked and not as likely to exhaust all options for their clients simply because they can’t. When you hire a lawyer for yourself, you are getting a rigorous, attentive legal defense. When you’re paying for their time, they are going to do everything they can with that time to ensure you have the strongest defense possible. So if you want to do everything you can to minimize the impact of criminal charges on your life, it’s going to be a good idea to work with more than just the court-appointed lawyer.

Q: What Should I Look for in a Criminal Defense Lawyer?

A: Who to hire as a defense lawyer is as big a decision as you can make. They’re going to try to help you avoid outcomes that can drastically change the direction of your life. Thus, first and foremost, you are going to need to find somebody that you can trust. If you at all feel uneasy about the lawyer, you should find someone you are willing to trust with such a pivotal moment in your life. Another characteristic you are going to want to look for in a criminal defense lawyer is that they have attention to detail. So much about putting together a strong defense is about exploiting small details in the prosecution’s case that don’t necessarily hold up to close scrutiny. You will need a lawyer who is quick to recognize these details and draw attention to them.

Q: When Should I Hire a Criminal Defense Attorney?

A: Immediately after you are arrested. It’s important that you have an attorney with you as soon as possible. They can help protect you from a police investigator’s attempt to coax a confession from you. The closer to your arrest, the better an investigation your lawyer can make and the more evidence in your favor they will be able to gather. The sooner you can get a hold of a criminal defense lawyer, the stronger your defense will be.

Q: What Should I Do if I Get Arrested?

A: Above all else, keep silent. Do not discuss the case with police, other inmates in jail, or even family. Anything you say could be used to make a case against you. Simply make it clear that you would like to contact your attorney, and you won’t be saying anything outside of their presence.

A Strong Defense Can Make All the Difference

Being arrested and charged with a crime can be a frightening experience. It can seem like the system is stacked against you, and you have little hope of being found anything but guilty. That’s by design. The more bleak your situation looks, the more likely you are to confess, agree to a plea even when the prosecution’s case is weak, or generally despair. They don’t want you to put up a fight, but don’t give up hope. There are often far more avenues for mounting a defense than it otherwise might seem.

Even if a plea seems like a better option or a guilty verdict is delivered, there are many things that can be acknowledged as contributing factors leading to a better plea or lighter sentencing. However, it takes skilled, experienced representation to take full advantage of every defense possible. At Axelrod & Associates, P.A., we are capable of putting together a thorough investigation and using those findings to mount a formidable defense in your favor. If you need criminal defense help, contact us today.