Being arrested for the first time can not only be scary, but also intimidating. The legal process can be incredibly daunting, but a Philadelphia Criminal Lawyer in Delaware County can help walk you through the process to ensure that your rights are upheld and you are offered the chance at a fair trial. Before the process begins, however, it can be helpful to have an idea of some of the phases of the trial process.
The Arrest and Bail
The first part of the arrest process includes the actual arrest, being processed into the court system, and bailing out of jail. These can happen before you hire a lawyer, but it’s best to have a lawyer with you if possible.
Pretrial
Before the trial, the lawyer will begin working on your defense. This includes sifting through the evidence, ensuring that your rights were not violated during the arrest, and preparing for the trial. This is where your defense attorney will go over their plan for defense with you, and is also the time any pretrial motions are made.
The Trial
This is where you will go in front of a judge and jury. The evidence will be presented, and any witnesses will be brought to the stand and interviewed by both sides of the case. The prosecutor and your defense lawyer will both give opening and closing statements as well as discuss the evidence and witnesses to try to persuade the jury to come to the conclusion they want.
The Sentencing
If you are found guilty, this is where you find out what will happen after the trial. Sentencing can include jail time, probation, parole, house arrest, community service, fines, or a combination of these. The sentence you will receive if you are found guilty will be based on the severity of the crime you were convicted of.
The Appeals
The last thing that your Philadelphia Criminal Lawyer Delaware County will help you with can be the appeals. If you were found guilty in court, your lawyer may be able to appeal the case based on numerous different points. Basically, an appeal is a review of your case to see if something was changed, if the outcome would have been different. This can potentially lead to a lesser sentence or the charges being dropped, even though the hearing has been completed.
The thing that your Philadelphia Criminal Lawyer Delaware County will help you with can be the appeals. If you were found guilty in court, your lawyer may be able to appeal the case based on numerous different points.