The laws require that any person who has been accused of a crime to appear in court. If the judge wants to convict you of a crime, then it must be proved beyond a reasonable doubt that you committed the crime, and you’re guilty. Similarly, as the victim, you have a chance to provide evidence to support your defense. If you’re not sure of what to do, a San Diego criminal attorney may help you prevent a guilty verdict. He/she has the knowledge needed to challenge the sufficiency or validity of prosecution evidence. Therefore, it’s good to understand the type of defense you can raise in a criminal case.
Types of Defenses You Can Use For Your Criminal Case
The most important thing is to be aware of your constitutional rights. This is possible by finding the best criminal defense lawyer to help you understand the available defenses for your crime. They include:
- Self-defense: Many times, if you have been charged with a violent crime, you can use self-defense to prove that for sure, you committed the crime. But the other party became a threat, and hence you were forced to act by defending yourself.
- Proving you didn’t do it: You may have the claim that you never did the alleged act. You might argue that someone committed the crime. Your defense lawyer may prove that the plaintiff’s actions never satisfied the elements of the crime. He/she might also claim that witnesses were coerced to give the wrong information.
- Threats and persuasion: You may prove that force was used to make you commit a crime. The unlawful force may satisfy that you were coerced to perform a crime
- The insanity defense: This defense prevents an individual who can’t function fully to control their behavior. It’s a complicated defense that requires the help of an experienced criminal defense lawyer. A mentally ill person may not be able to distinguish a right from wrong; thus, they can be criminally responsible.
- It was an entrapment: This is when the government may push you to commit a crime and then punish you for it. For instance, a police officer may set up a sting operation for you to commit a robbery. However, a judge may claim that any reasonable person is supposed to resist an ordinary temptation to violate the law. You have to prove that harassment, threat, or flattery was used to induce you to commit a crime.
Getting The Best Lawyer For The Criminal Defenses
While the above is just a basic of the many options of defenses available, you should look for the best criminal defense lawyer to help you stay informed. A lawyer will help you to determine the criminal defense appropriate for the crime you are charged with and the evidence present. This will be for the best possible outcome of your criminal case. He/she knows the defense strategy to use to get your charges dismissed or lessened. If you’re facing serious criminal charges, you should avoid defending yourself as that is a rare idea that will see you convicted and serve jail sentences.