Common Defenses a Criminal Defense Lawyer Will Use
Over ten million people are arrested for criminal offenses in the United States each year. The majority of those people will require a criminal defense lawyer to make sure they’re found innocent.
Are you wondering how a criminal defense lawyer does their job?
Read on to learn about common defenses that a criminal lawyer of Ontario can use in court.
Innocence
The easiest criminal law defense is innocence. If you didn’t do the crime, and there’s proof, your criminal defense attorney can simply outline the evidence and prove you didn’t do it. So, if you didn’t do the crime you’re accused of, let your lawyer know, and give them your alibi.
If you’ve hired an embezzlement attorney, for example, you may be able to provide financial records to prove you didn’t participate in embezzlement.
Self-Defense, Defense of Others, or Defense of Property
Defending yourself, defending another person, or defending your personal property is a common defense when a person is accused of a violent or forceful act.
In this defense, the lawyer admits that the accused did the crime, but argues that it was necessary for their safety, for the safety of another person, or for the safety of their property.
Coercion or Duress
When your criminal defense attorney argues coercion or duress, they are arguing that you were forced to commit a crime that you wouldn’t have if you were left to your own devices.
Coercion or duress is often a factor in crimes that involve large criminal organizations such as gangs or the mafia.
Statute of Limitations
Sometimes, prosecutors simply wait too long to charge you with a crime. That’s where the statute of limitations comes in.
Of course, some crimes aren’t subject to the statute of limitations, either in the whole country or in some states. And, sometimes there are exceptions to the statute of limitations. A good criminal defense attorney will know all these eccentricities, and will only choose this argument if it applies to you.
Intoxication
For some crimes, a criminal defense attorney can argue intoxication, meaning that you were too intoxicated to understand what you were doing was a crime. This can be a result of either involuntary or voluntary intoxication.
When criminal defense attorneys argue voluntary intoxication, it doesn’t mean that your lawyer is arguing that you got too drunk to know you were committing a crime. Voluntary intoxication is only a valid defense for crimes that have a specific level of intent required, such as first-degree murder.
Involuntary intoxication, where an attorney argues you were intoxicated against your will, applies to a wider range of crimes than voluntary intoxication defenses.
Hire a Criminal Defense Lawyer Today
If you’ve been charged with a crime, you should hire a criminal defense lawyer to take your case and get you off the hook ASAP. So, what are you waiting for? Call a lawyer today.
Need more legal advice? Check out some of the other posts on this website for all the information you need.
