FAQ

A grand jury refers to a collection of individuals whose role is to weigh a case and determine if there is sufficient evidence to bring the case to trial. For instance, in an arrest for a drug crime, the grand jury will consider your case's facts and determine if the prosecutor has a legitimate claim against you. The grand jury will consider witness testimony, drug paraphernalia, drug test results, and other available evidence. At the end of their proceedings, the grand jury will decide if the prosecution has enough evidence against you and if the case should proceed to trial. If there is no ample evidence, your case will not move forward. Usually, the grand jury comes in federal and high-level felony offenses.

Criminal offenses often fall under two categories: felonies and misdemeanors. Felony offenses are more severe and carry harsher penalties than misdemeanor crimes. However, even if misdemeanor offenses are less intense, they could be equally damaging to your record and could adversely affect your freedom and future. In California, every criminal offense is serious, no matter how minor it seems, and should be handled by an experienced criminal defense attorney. Felony crimes are often punishable by jail time in a county jail or imprisonment in state prison. Some of the crimes that often attract felony crimes include rape, murder, homicide, drug crimes, and vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated crimes. Misdemeanor crimes are often punishable by jail time (shorter jail periods than for felony crimes) and fines. For some misdemeanor crimes, the court may recommend probation instead of jail time. Some crimes that often attract misdemeanor charges under California law include petty theft, reckless driving, domestic violence, minor DUI offenses. Irrespective of whether you are facing felony or misdemeanor charges, it is crucial to hire an experienced criminal defense attorney who has solid experience and a strong background.

Yes, the prosecution will determine the charges that you face. When you commit a crime, the prosecutor first determines whether there is enough evidence to back your charges or build a legally sound case. At times, the prosecution might decide that the issue is not worth pursuing, mainly if the case contains an inherent flaw. The prosecutor will probably drop your charges if they feel that they don't have enough evidence to pursue a conviction. Prosecutors have the right to use discretion while charging a crime as a felony or a misdemeanor. The prosecution considers the defendant's criminal history and the offense's facts while determining whether to charge a crime as a felony or misdemeanor. In deciding whether to pursue a case or drop it, the prosecution will consider their evidence's quality and quantity. If your criminal attorney has extensive questionable evidence, the prosecutor might not pursue the case due to its potential pitfalls. The prosecutor must be careful in deciding how to assign charges because a defendant can only face prosecution once for an alleged offense. Given the significant impact that a prosecutor has on a case, you should be careful when dealing with them. It's wise to contact a criminal defense attorney to have them negotiate with the prosecutor on your behalf.

It does not matter whether you have committed a crime or you are innocent. If your case proceeds to trial and the judge convicts you of a crime, you will face similar penalties as everyone else. Therefore, it is essential to hire a criminal defense attorney if you are innocent because this will help prevent a wrongful or unfair conviction. An attorney will fight aggressively and do everything in their power to ensure that they protect your rights. Without the help of an attorney, you might not manage to gather evidence and convince the court that you are innocent. Even if you are innocent, you are only innocent until the court or the judges agree. You have to go through the criminal defense process to prove that you are innocent. Self-representation puts you at risk of losing your freedom, and this is much costlier than the money you will pay to hire an experienced criminal defense attorney. You will increase your chance of proving your innocence and winning the case by hiring an experienced criminal defense attorney. 

Even if you plan to take a plea bargain, you still need an experienced criminal defense attorney. An attorney will help you determine if the prosecutor has ample evidence and if they would be willing to offer you a plea bargain for your offense. If you choose to go it alone, the prosecution might give you an unreasonable bargain and assume that you will plead guilty.  An attorney will help you to negotiate the best agreement with the prosecutor. According to California and Federal laws, a defendant has a right to represent themselves in a criminal case. However, self-representation is strongly discouraged. You should not substitute an experienced criminal defense attorney with anything if you want the best outcome for your case.