No one calls a criminal defense attorney when they are not facing – or have no reason to believe they will be facing – criminal charges. That is not surprising. What might be surprising is that many people do not hire a criminal defense attorney even once they have been arrested and charged, or at least not right away. Attorneys are expensive, after all, and no matter what you were arrested for, your trial is not tomorrow. While that might be true, it is only true right up until it is not. A defense attorney needs time to investigate your case, to talk to the prosecutor about the charges you face, and to prepare a defense. Hiring an attorney is not cheap, but neither is going to jail, and hiring an attorney early can save you a lot of expenses later. You should hire a defense attorney as soon as you can after you are charged. At a minimum, you should talk to a defense attorney as soon as you are charged to find out what your options are, keeping in mind that money spent now probably is money saved later.
You Only Think You Cannot Afford to Hire a Defense Attorney
The fact is you cannot afford not to. Criminal charges are no joke. It does not take a murder charge to mess up your life. Even a charge for “just” driving while intoxicated can result in thousands of dollars in fines, loss of your license, and a minimum of three days and up to six months in jail — and that is without aggravating circumstances, such as property damage, injuries to another person, or even simply the presence of a minor in your vehicle. Other criminal charges can, and usually do, carry more serious penalties. How long do you think you can go to jail and still keep your job?
Even if your boss is the world’s biggest sweetheart and holds your job for you for several months while you serve time for a criminal offense, did your mortgage holder forgo payments, as well? Not likely. What about the water bill, the electric bill, and all the other bills you cannot pay while you are in jail? What will happen to your family? And that is only talking about a few months in jail. What if you are charged with a crime that carries a longer sentence, maybe even several years? Suddenly, that lawyer doesn’t seem so expensive.
Further, even once your sentence is over with, your conviction is not. It is never over with. That conviction is on your record for life. If you hold a professional license, work in a field that requires bonded insurance, or have an occupation that requires a security clearance – which could be as simple as working at a daycare center – a criminal conviction could make it impossible for you to continue in that job. No matter what kind of criminal charges you might be facing – assault, drug charges, DWI, theft, or even homicide – you should talk to an attorney to see what your defense options might be.
If You are Facing Criminal Charges in the Houston Area, Talk to Madrid Law Firm
Criminal charges are, without exception, serious business. You need a criminal defense lawyer with the experience to help you put together a defense and achieve the best outcome possible. If you are facing criminal charges, talk to the Madrid Law Firm.
