Individuals Learn About Criminal Defense Options With Washington D. C. Law Firm

By Andreas Paschar


There are quite a few reasons why one would need to hire someone who understands the legal system to help with certain situations. A Washington DC personal injury attorney would come in very handy if one were injured by the fault of another. Some other fields of this type include tax, immigration, corporate and criminal law.

Under the law, every defendant is entitled to a proper defense. They must also be proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt before they can be convicted. It is the job of their lawyer to ensure both fair representation and that the accused does not get buried beneath a lot of legal speak and technicalities.

In every case, innocence should be presumed until either plea or trial proceedings proves guilt. The prosecution has to convince the jury or the judge that there is no reasonable doubt of the defendant's guilt. While a lawyer for the defense does not have to present a case, most prefer not to let the government present the facts solely according to their witnesses.

A defendant has several plea options they may enter when accused of a crime. Quite often the claim is that they are not guilty. They way this is typically proven is through presenting documentation or witnesses that place them someplace other than the crime scene during the time frame in which the action is said to have occurred.

If the defendant admits to committing the crime but with extenuating circumstances, they could use several defenses. A claim of self defense basically states they acted to protect themselves, insanity means they had diminished mental capacity, and under the influence means that either drugs or alcohol caused their actions. These are all commonly utilized.

Entrapment, a claim that the government basically tricked them into committing the crime, is another plea option. This is quite difficult to prove in most situations. A lawyer takes the responsibility to advise the client on the most fitting defense for their particular circumstances.




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