When a New York resident is arrested on suspicion of committing a crime, their entire world may be turned upside down. Particularly when they have no experience with the criminal justice system may they be rightfully concerned about the pending threats to their rights and liberties. Understanding the charges that have been lodged against a person can be confusing enough, not to mention the difficult process that individuals must face when their legal matters come to trial.
A guilty verdict at trial can mean more than a slap on the wrist or a monetary fine. Depending upon the type of charge that the person was arrested for allegedly committing, their criminal punishments could include time in jail and the loss of privileges that most Americans enjoy. A criminal conviction can have long-term consequences on a person’s life and may impact their abilities to seek certain forms of employment and to secure particular licenses.
The criminal justice system is adversarial and therefore affords criminal defendants the opportunity to plead their sides of their cases. When appearing in court a criminal defendant may confront the facts and allegations brought against them and offer their own side of the story that has led to their arrest. Preparing for trial is what is known as preparing a criminal defense strategy and every criminal defense strategy should be tailored to the particular legal needs of individuals.
The law firm of Lerner & Lerner serves the legal needs of men and women who are battling criminal charges. Their dedicated team of legal professionals is prepared to meet with new and existing criminal defense clients to ensure that their rights are protected now and into the New Year.