The time to hire an attorney for full legal protection is running out if you have been detained and accused of a crime. As prosecutors continue to gather evidence against you, the moments that you spend weighing the pros and cons of hiring a criminal defense lawyer in Ann Arbor may leave you unprotected and room for your situation to worsen.
Starting with a risk-free consultation, our Ann Arbor criminal defense lawyers in Michigan will give you the best possibility to negotiate a lesser charge or perhaps even to have your charge dropped. At White Law PLLC, our approach is to move quickly and in private in order to protect your rights and your future.
What Can Happen After a Suspect Is Investigated?
The criminal justice process is more detailed than what is shown on television and requires strategic effort to navigate through it. If you are suspected of a crime, these are the stages that you may go through depending on the type of criminal charge:
Arrest
Most misdemeanors do not require an arrest but for a crime where an arrest is made. A police officer will write an arrest report and send it to the prosecutor. The report will include details such as what happened leading up to the arrest and specifics of the arrest. The charges listed will be reviewed by the prosecutor to decline, modify, or increase the charge.
Grand Jury Indictment
The grand jury secretly meets to evaluate if charges should be brought against you and determines which charges to apply from the list provided by the prosecutor. Evidence is presented to them and they are allowed to ask questions to witnesses or the prosecution to arrive at a majority decision.
If they choose not to indict charges, the prosecution can either present new evidence to change their decision or may still charge you but on a lesser charge like a misdemeanor.
Preliminary Hearing
A preliminary hearing may be needed in felony cases where the prosecution chose to not use a grand jury. Instead, a judge decides if the state has collected enough evidence against you to go to trial.
Your Fight Is Our Fight
If I Am Arrested, Should I Speak to the Police?
It is advisable that you avoid speaking with any police officers after being detained until you have retained legal representation by an Ann Arbor criminal defense attorney. Many people are unaware that they are not obligated to confess or make a statement to a police officer.
Both the right to counsel and the right to keep silent are yours. You should make use of your Fifth Amendment right as soon as you can to make sure you get the best result for your case. In court, police officials frequently attempt to exploit anything that you said against you, which can be harmful to your case.
We know how to get our clients the results they need in the toughest legal arenas.
Top Advantages of Hiring a Criminal Defense Lawyer
When weighing the pros and cons of hiring a criminal defense lawyer, the cost is usually the main and only reason why people reconsider whether hiring an attorney is necessary. While we would never advise anyone to impulsively hire any criminal defense attorney in Ann Arbor, MI, the following advantages may help you make an informed decision:
- Offers valuable advice – We can help you navigate the criminal court system and provide guidance on how to best approach your case. Additionally, we offer advice on any defensive options you might have.
- Submit applications for bail – Bail requests are made on behalf of clients by criminal defense attorneys. If bail has been granted, your criminal defense attorney will offer guidance on how to deposit a bail bond and what restrictions are placed on your release.
- Strong defense strategies – Starting with the prosecution’s flaws, we develop a tailored defense strategy to win. We incorporate plans that will reduce or exonerate your charges and are equipped with backup tactics to use at any given time.
- Preparation for any legal proceedings – Our criminal defense team also gets their clients ready for additional court appearances and hearings where the judge can ask about the evidence against them. These could involve consultations with a psychologist, psychiatrist, physician, or probation officer.
- Unlimited connections and resources – Our legal team has access to crucial resources that could create opportunities for your case’s resolution. Finding and cross-examining witnesses, obtaining significant pieces of evidence, and retaining specialists who can testify in your favor are all things we are capable of doing to prevent and manage damage to your case.
After experiencing the stressful and terrifying event of being charged with a crime, our clients appreciate the ability of our Ann Arbor defense lawyers to take control and defend their freedom to the fullest possible extent.
We understand that you may be going through a difficult situation and we are ready to help however we can.
Seeking Legal Representation When Guilty
No matter what you intend to plead, it is imperative that you get a criminal defense attorney to safeguard your rights. A pro se representation can lead to a longer sentence because the prosecution always wants to impose the heaviest punishments available in criminal cases.
If it’s possible, a lawyer from our firm can assist you in reducing or perhaps clearing your criminal charges.
You will always work directly with your attorney throughout your case.
Free Case Evaluation for the Criminally Charged
Our criminal defense lawyers in Ann Arbor, MI, understand that you have many questions of concern regarding your criminal allegations. We are not here to judge, we are here to fight and win.
White Law PLLC has over 60 years of legal expertise in managing a variety of criminal cases. We represent those facing misdemeanors, felonies, gun charges, domestic abuse, and more.
Contact a criminal defense lawyer today for a free case evaluation.
We’re Experienced. We Care.
We Exceed Client Expectations.
