Most people who have been charged with a crime are aware that they should contact a defense attorney to help them with their cases. While most people understand that having a lawyer assist them with their case is highly preferable (and recommended) over not having one, some defendants choose to handle their cases themselves rather than hire an attorney due to the costs that come with hiring legal representation. However, if you choose not to hire a criminal defense attorney to help you defend your case, here are some of the things that you can expect to likely happen as a result:
It’s possible that you’ll have to pay a fine
If you don’t have good legal representation or legal assistance for your case, then you may be forced to pay a fine as a potential penalty–and potentially a large fine, at that. Even nonviolent infractions can result in hefty fines, many of which will be higher than what you would spend if you hired a criminal defense lawyer to assist you with your case.
You may be required to serve time in prison
Another possibility if you choose not to hire a defense lawyer to assist you with your case is that you may be sentenced to prison. If convicted of a felony, you can expect to serve time in jail, and even misdemeanors can sometimes result in a prison sentence and will go on your permanent record. However, with the proper legal representation and assistance, you may be able to avoid having to serve any jail time.
You might lose your job, custody, and more
Aside from the possibility of serving time in prison and having to pay a fine, there are other possible consequences that you may face as well if you do not pay for a good legal defense for your case. For starters, if you’re convicted of a crime, especially one that requires you to serve time in prison, you could lose your job. Furthermore, if you are convicted of a felony, you may lose custody of your child or children, as well as your right to vote, and much more.
The criminal charges and penalties could end up on your permanent record
Another thing that could happen if you choose not to hire a defense attorney to help you with your case is that you could be found guilty, and the charges against you, as well as any jail time you serve (if you are sentenced to prison), will be put on your permanent record. This could have an impact on your current employment situation, as well as on your future employment and living options as well.
If you’ve been accused of committing a crime or have been charged with a crime, then you will need an expert criminal defense attorney in Minneapolis MN, like Lauren Campoli, to assist you with your case.
Lauren Campoli provides expert legal representation to adults and juveniles who are facing misdemeanor, gross misdemeanor, and felony charges in Minnesota State and Federal Courts. She is a Minnesota State Bar Association certified Criminal Law Specialist, and is also a nationally-recognized trial lawyer who has tried over 50 jury trials, with a success rate of 87%.