Being charged with a crime is scary. Depending on the criminal offense you have been charged with, you will face an array of harsh penalties that will negatively impact your life. When facing a criminal trial, it is critical to have quality legal representation. If you cannot afford an attorney, the court will appoint one for you. If this is the case, the court will appoint a public defender to represent you. Public defenders are government employees who represent indigent defendants for free. Although having a public defender represent you is cheaper than hiring a criminal defense attorney, a public defender will not be able to devote the necessary time to defending you as they juggle multiple criminal cases. If you are facing a criminal trial, it is in your best interest to hire our skilled Nassau County Criminal Defense Attorneys who will work tirelessly to defend your rights and interests. Keep reading to learn why you should hire an attorney to represent you.
Why should I hire an attorney instead of a public defender?
If you have been charged with a crime, the best way to achieve a favorable outcome and prevent harsh penalties is to retain an experienced criminal defense attorney. If you can afford to hire an attorney, you should do so. Public defenders have large caseloads, meaning they have to juggle multiple criminal cases at the same time. Essentially, this means they have less time to devote to defending you as they have to defend several other individuals in a similar predicament. With that being said, public defenders are also overworked. When they have a large number of clients to represent, it is less likely that they are putting their all into every case. This means they may not raise all available defenses. If certain defense strategies are not used, it will be more difficult to reach reduced or dismissed charges. Additionally, a public defender is more likely to pressure you into accepting a plea bargain. Despite plea deals being beneficial in some cases, it is sometimes better to reject the offer as there could be strong defenses that help you achieve reduced or dismissed charges. Public defenders will urge you to accept a plea bargain even if it is not in your best interest as they want to settle your case quickly and move on to the next.
Although it can be expensive to hire an attorney, you will feel better knowing your attorney has the time to devote to building a strong defense strategy for you. If you or someone you love is facing a criminal trial, please contact one of our proficient and dedicated team members. Our firm will aggressively defend you to achieve the best possible outcome.
