How Can a Theft Crime Attorney Help Me?

Your freedom is on the line if you face theft charges in New York. A conviction also attracts stiff penalties in the form of hefty fines and a ruined reputation. Don’t attempt to represent yourself, no matter how smart you are. The criminal legal system is complex, and you may not effectively defend yourself against the charges without legal help.

So, consider hiring an aggressive criminal defense attorney in Long Island to fight the legal battle on your behalf. Criminal defense lawyers are trained to unearth unique elements and listen to arguments that can reduce a potential life-altering conviction. Here’s how a lawyer can help you avoid unfair sentencing for theft and burglary charges.

Lawyers Have Special Safeguards in Criminal Justice Matters

The law stipulates that every accused person has the right to be assisted by a lawyer of their choice upon arrest or detention or when facing criminal charges. Anyone who doesn’t have a lawyer is entitled to have an experienced and competent lawyer assigned to them based on the nature of the offense to ensure they have adequate legal representation.

Lawyers must advise clients of their legal rights and obligations. They also must assist them in all appropriate ways to take legal action to protect their interests. In protecting your rights and promoting the cause of justice, your Long Island theft and burglary attorney must act to protect your interests, working freely and diligently according to the law.

Additionally, lawyers enjoy civil and penal immunity for relevant statements they make in good faith during oral proceedings. This immunity gives them a better legal standing. Unlike you, what they say can’t be used against them in a court of law, so they’re better positioned to argue your case in your defense.

In-Depth Knowledge of the Criminal Law

Your Long Island theft and burglary lawyer has studied and is trained to understand every aspect of the law and knows how the court system works. They focus on determining if any loopholes or inconsistencies in the system exist and if they can work in your favor to help you beat the charges. They also know the leading players in the legal system, including prosecutors and judges.

Lawyers often work with other legal experts to help you build a strong defense strategy while utilizing the “unwritten legal rules” that may work in your favor. These are things you might not know if you represent yourself. You could waive legal rights you didn’t know you had or plead guilty to charges you didn’t have to.

Your Lawyer Can Fight to Have the Charges Dismissed

In some situations, and depending on the complexity of your case, your theft and burglary attorney in Long Island can convince the prosecution to drop the charges before the case goes to trial. They can investigate the circumstances surrounding your arrest to identify evidence that supports why your case should be dropped.

For example, they might find that the police didn’t read your Miranda rights or searched you illegally during your arrest. In that case, your lawyer may argue that the police violated your rights and ask that your case be dismissed.

Your Lawyer Can Help Get a Sentence Reduction

Imprisonment shouldn’t be taken for granted as the natural form of punishment once a defendant has been convicted of a crime. That’s because it deprives people of their liberty. That’s where alternative sentencing comes in to encourage fair sentencing by considering other options depending on the severity of the crime.

Before your hearing, your criminal defense lawyer in Long Island may file a mitigation statement that outlines a plea for a shorter sentence. It should be transparent regarding your interests that will suffer due to your absence while serving an imprisonment term. Your lawyer can fight to reduce your time if you’re sentenced to prison for a misdemeanor or felony.

Your sentence can be reduced or altered based on various factors, such as the following:

  • The nature of the crime
  • The applicable legal sentencing guidelines that apply
  • Your existing criminal record

Your Lawyer Can Help You Get Acquitted at Trial

Criminal cases go to trial for various reasons, such as being wrongly accused. The jury can only convict you if it believes you’re guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, an extremely high standard. An experienced criminal defense lawyer knows how to build the strongest case to defend you.

Some ways in which your attorney can cast reasonable doubt in your theft case include the following:

  • Proving lack of intent to commit the crime
  • Challenging evidence presented by the prosecution
  • Presenting an alibi
  • Proving ownership of the property in question
  • Proving mistaken identity
  • Establishing a legal, judicial, or court error in the sentencing
  • Arguing based on a change in the law that retroactively alters a previously unfair sentence

A skilled lawyer can carefully evaluate all possible defense strategies applicable to your case to help you fight for an acquittal at trial.

An Experienced Criminal Defense Attorney Helping You Avoid Unfair Sentencing

The legal system is complex, and if you’re facing theft and burglary charges, having the assistance of an aggressive theft and burglary attorney in Long Island is crucial. They can provide the legal representation you need and fight to ensure you are not subjected to unfair sentencing.

The lawyers at the Mirsky Law Firm can come to your defense. We have many years of experience in criminal law, and we can work diligently to defend you against theft charges. We believe you’re innocent until proven guilty, so all hope is not lost. Call us at 516-744-1811 for a case assessment.