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(555) 555-5555Expungement is the court process by which a criminal record is destroyed or sealed. Criminal record expungement proceedings almost always take place at the state level. As of now, there is no federal law governing criminal expungements.
In Boone County, the process for a criminal records expungement is fairly straightforward. The process of getting your Indiana criminal record expunged includes the following steps:
While the Indiana expungement law contains certain exceptions, in general, these rules regarding expungements in Boone County are applicable:
The type of crimes that are generally not eligible for expungement in Indiana are the following:
Getting your criminal record expunged in Boone County has a number of benefits. Some of the benefits of getting an expungement at the Lebanon court house, include restoring your Second Amendment Rights, the ability to hold certain professional licenses, access to increased employment opportunities, as well as an increase in housing and potential college scholarship opportunities.
Call us today to discuss the details of your case in a consultation with a Boone County, Indiana expungement lawyer by calling our office at (317) 721-9858 to speak with a Boone County expungement attorney now!
Top rated Marion county criminal defense attorney, Jesse K. Sanchez, has years of experience defending crimes of domestic violence, all felonies and misdemeanors. From domestic battery and invasion of privacy to strangulation, confinement and intimidation. Can the State prove their case? What are your defenses? What if the alleged victim does not want to proceed with the case? Get some answers: Call Jesse K. Sanchez for a consultation.
With serious criminal charges pending, you’ll need the guidance of a top-rated Marion county criminal defense attorney. Finding a good lawyer can be difficult, however, especially when time is of the essence. For those seeking a lawyer in Marion County, Indiana, The Law Office of Jesse K. Sanchez brings a winning record, zealous defense and extensive experience litigating criminal defense cases in Indiana. Call our office at (317) 721-9858 or email us at info@jksanchezlaw.com.
Our law firm will provide you with the most aggressive and innovative defense available. Unlike other criminal defense firms, we are able to do what others are not, rather than assuming that you are guilty and pressuring you into take a plea bargain, our goal as your Marion county criminal law firm, we examine all avenues of criminal defense available in order to provide you with the best criminal defense possible. We defend our clients against the following crimes:
Our primary goal is to have your criminal charges dismissed. As your attorney, we will closely analyze your case to find the prosecutors weaknesses and to determine how best to overcome evidentiary issues. If the charges cannot be dismissed, we will seek to get them reduced or to obtain a pretrial diversion on your behalf.
After you have been arrested in Marion county, just perform a search for “Marion county criminal attorney near me” or even search for “criminal defense attorneys that accept payment plans” and we will be right there ready with a criminal defense consultation. We can be reached at (317) 721-9858 24/7/365. Call now, time is of the essence.
Were you pulled over for suspicion of DUI? If you are facing charges or have already been convicted of a Driving Under the Influence charge, you may wonder, “Will this DUI arrest affect employment? Will it matter to my current employer or possibly in the future?”
You might have been thinking about a transfer or applying for a new job, but now you’re worried. You have a DUI on your record. Is it going to matter? That’s the question posed by many clients with DUI charges to their attorneys. Here, take a look at how a DUI arrest can affect your employment.
Will a DUI arrest derail your career? The answer in most cases is, “No.” Here, we are talking about researchers, academics, accountants, CEOs, nurses, judges, doctors, lawyers, sales associates, food workers, and more. It might seem surprising that you can maintain some of these jobs after undergoing a DUI charge or conviction. However, a DUI arrest may directly impact other jobs, such as:
So, before you start assuming your career has come to an end due to a DUI arrest, you want to take a close look at what you do for a living. Two important considerations for whether you will be able to continue working or not after facing DUI charges or receiving a conviction are:
As a job applicant, will your arrest reflect poorly on you during an interview or on an application? You’re probably hesitant to list the arrest on an application in case the stigma associated with it could prejudice your prospective employer against you.
You are going to have a bigger problem, however, if you make a false statement on your application or you omit the arrest. The reason? Since the employer asked you to disclose convictions, criminal charges, and arrests, they will also likely run a background check on you. Once the results of that come through, your application will be disposed of if any discrepancies show up. As you can see, even if you don’t know if it will deter a potential employer or not, it is better to be honest from the outset.
Bottom line: Don’t lie on the application or during the interview.
If you are convicted of a DUI charge as a class A misdemeanor, a level 6 felony converted to a class A misdemeanor, or any lower DUI charge, you should be eligible for expungement of these charges from your record, and your record will be sealed. Some other important requirements for any expungement to bear in mind are:
Regardless of the offense, it’s best to talk to an attorney who specializes in expungement.
Jesse K. Sanchez and the attorneys in his office have years of experience against drunk and drugged driving charges. Our office will affordably represent you as if your battle is our own. Do you need representation against pending DUI charges or your DUI conviction expunged? Talk to a member of our office to see what we can do about your situation.
There is a sex offender registration requirement for every state to keep a database of convicted sex offenders. These are the requirements for an Indiana sex offender. If you have been convicted of a sex crime and you need an Indiana sex offender lawyer, you are subject to sex offender registration, call us at (317) 721-9858 or via email at info@jksanchezlaw.com.
According to Ind. Code § 11-8-8-7, the local law enforcement authority with whom a sex offender registers is required to make and publish a photograph of the offender on the Indiana sex offender registry website. They must also notify every law enforcement agency having jurisdiction in the county where they reside and update the National Crime Information Center National Sex Offender Registry data base.
When a sex offender registers, he or she must provide the following information:
If a sex offender changes his or her principal residence address, or the place where the offender stays in Indiana, he or she is required under Ind. Code § 11-8-8-11 to report to the local law enforcement authority with jurisdiction over the offender’s current principal address or location no more than 72 hours after the address change. The same applies if the offender changes his or her principal place of employment, vocation, campus or school enrollment location. Additionally, if the offender changes or obtains a new email address, instant messaging username, electronic chat room username, or social networking web site username, he or she must report in person to the local law enforcement authority no more than 72 hours after the change or creation of the address or username and provide the new address or username.
Registered sex offenders also have an annual reporting requirement. Under Ind. Code § 11-8-8-14, they must report in person to the local law enforcement authority once every 365 days to register and be photographed.
Under Ind. Code § 11-8-8-17, a sex offender is guilty of a Level 6 felony punishable by up to two and a half years of imprisonment and a fine not exceeding $10,000 as provided by Ind. Code § 35-50-2-7 if he or she knowingly or intentionally:
If you are a convicted sex offender, it still makes sense to have the best sex offender attorney available for your personal situation. Give The Law Office of Jesse K. Sanchez a call at (317) 721-9858.
People make mistakes. Maybe you drove home after a party when you really shouldn’t have. You got pulled over by the police for driving erratically, for being in a crash, or maybe even just violating a minor traffic law, and, as a result, you were arrested for driving under the influence.
After a DUI arrest, what should you do? To help you deal with the BMV and assist you in your criminal DUI case, we put together a list of things we recommend any person with such charges should do after their release from custody. One of the most important steps you can take following a DUI arrest is contact a lawyer with experience in DUI cases in Indiana.
Here’s the complete list of what to do, and not to do, following a DUI arrest.
Do not talk to anyone about your DUI case without your lawyer present – especially the police. Simply but respectfully tell anyone who tries to talk to you that you must have your lawyer present to confer with before answering any questions. That being said, do be sure to provide the minimal information necessary to identify yourself, and to provide consent to the blood draw or certified breathalyzer test the officer requests you to take, as refusing to do so will trigger a mandatory one year suspension of your driving privileges under Indiana Law.
You’re going to have to deal with the BMV anyway, so you might as well get the process started by contacting them following your DUI arrest – after you talk to your DUI lawyer, of course. It is essential you contact and speak with a lawyer about hiring them to represent you in your case before ten days after your initial hearing passes. Otherwise, your license may be suspended if the State provides the Court with probable cause evidence to show you were intoxicated in the alleged incident by blood draw or certified breathalyzer results. In addition, if you refused the blood draw or certified breathalyzer test offered during the stop, it is essential that you speak with a criminal defense attorney before your initial hearing as there are certain steps a lawyer can take on your behalf to get an alcohol monitor installed in your vehicle to keep your license from being suspended.
As close to the time of your initial arrest as possible, physically record any and all details that you can recall from the incident, and save them on your phone, a piece of paper, a Word Document – anywhere you can. Don’t skip a single detail. Record things like how your involvement with the police that day started, what the police said, what you said to the police, the process gone through by the officer who arrested you from beginning to end – everything. A step-by-step, thorough record of how the incident occurred will best enable the lawyer you hire to examine the State’s evidence for any possible constitutional violations that may have occurred during the process of your arrest.
Any evidence or witnesses that can help your case need to be gathered so your attorney can best evaluate the potential resolutions possible in your case. If there were cameras on buildings overlooking the scene of where the stop and arrest happened, you should reach out to those businesses or individuals as soon as possible either on your own or through your lawyer (if you are able to hire immediately) to ensure evidence is preserved. Reaching out to preserve evidence can include talking to employees at the restaurant you were dining at to get their names and contact information, requesting video footage from the bar you were drinking at, speaking to friends you were drinking with about what they witnessed of you that night, speaking with anyone who saw the accident occur (if you were in one), locating video footage that show the accident happening, and more.
To defend your case, and negotiate with the Deputy Prosecutor who gets assigned to your case, it’s easier for your attorney to keep the best possible resolutions open to you in the negotiations if you stay out of trouble. When it comes to the judge and the sentence they will hand down, a clean record following your DUI arrest makes a significant difference. Always follow the orders of the judge and the advice of your attorney.
DUI case resolution takes a while. For your case to be completely resolved, it can take a year or more. Your lawyer needs to receive and review all possible relevant evidence, negotiate with the State for the best resolution possible, or prepare your case for a bench or jury trial resolution. Court motions will be made, witnesses may need to be called to testify in depositions, and so on. Patiently wait it out – these things take time, especially when you are trying to get the best resolution possible.
If you’ve been charged with driving while intoxicated, a major felony, domestic violence, drug use/possession, a sex crime, or a gun crime – no matter what kind of difficulty you’re facing – do yourself a considerable service by conferring with one of the attorneys at The Law Office of Jesse K. Sanchez.
In the fight against both drugged-driving criminal offense charges and drunken-driving charges, Jesse Sanchez and his associates have years of experience. Our office will affordably represent you as if your battle were our very own. Call or text to schedule a consultation now. One of our attorneys will take a close look at your potential defenses and figure out whether or not your case can be proven by the state.
Please don’t wait another moment – contact us at: (317) 721-9858.
If you made a mistake in your past that resulted in a criminal conviction, charge, or arrest, you might be wondering – what can I do about it? Can I make it go away? Can I get it eliminated from my criminal history? Even if I can, is it worth it? The good news is that there is a legal process referred to as “criminal record expungement“, and yes, it is worth it. You can move on with your life by clearing your slate with a criminal record expungement.
We’re going to take a look at the basics of an expungement and how the process can change your life.
You can petition a court to get your criminal record sealed through a legal process referred to as an expungement. For example, during a criminal background check, charges and arrests that show up on your record may disqualify you from certain opportunities like school, jobs, housing, etc. A criminal record expungement will help protect your privacy and give you a better shot at similar opportunities in the future.
Especially if a mistake resulting in a criminal conviction or arrest was made long ago, there’s every chance you’re someone else now. The past shouldn’t have devastating effects on your future. Invest in your future with an expungement. Let’s talk about the benefits of expungement.
A clean criminal history is required by certain community positions/organizations (think Little League, Boy Scouts, etc.). You can get back to helping your community because more opportunities will open up for you after a successful expungement.
Insurance premiums may rise from specific types of convictions, such as Driving while Intoxicated. Your premiums could be lowered if you get those previous criminal convictions expunged. You could also be eligible for other licenses, such as a CDL.
Some public assistance programs (i.e., TANF or SNAP) will not allow individuals to apply if they have specific convictions. A successful expungement could reopen one’s ability to access these public assistance programs.
Are you considering adoption or foster parenting? Certain criminal convictions on your record may present a barrier to accessing the ability to adopt or foster. Get those records expunged today.
Sometimes, before signing a rental agreement, a background check will be performed on the individual applying for the rental and certain criminal convictions can be used by a potential landlord to deny you housing. Get your record expunged so you and your family can have a better shot at accessing rental housing again.
Remove the stigma and weight of your record by expunging it. If you successfully get your criminal record expunged, others will not know about that history unless you tell them about it.
Give yourself equal footing against other candidates who are vying for the same education by having your record expunged.
Getting a new job is difficult enough without having to worry about putting the details of your criminal record on an application. You won’t have to disclose past incidents once your record is legally sealed by a successful criminal record expungement.
Protect your privacy. Any past mistakes you made and served a punishment for is nobody’s business but yours.
Looking to have your past convictions expunged? Are you wondering which offenses are eligible for expungement and which are not? We can help.
You need the services of The Law Office of Jesse K. Sanchez – where we will provide you with an attorney who understands your goals and will represent you as if your battles are their very own.
We have office locations in both Indianapolis and Lafayette. You can use this convenient form to send a message to request a consultation, now.
When you petition a court for your criminal conviction and/or arrest history to be basically “forgotten” this process is referred to as an expungement. Another way to to think about it is like this: The Court that previously entered the conviction or that your arrest went to is setting aside the criminal conviction or, in the eyes of the law, erasing what is on your criminal record.
When it comes to criminal expungement, for a person with a past arrest or conviction on their criminal history, this legal process can be life-changing – it offers them a new chance at a clean start in life. This person can now stop worrying that the hardships from their past – legally at least – will follow them. They can enjoy a freer way of life.
Let’s look closely at expungement on a basic level. If you need help interpreting what exactly is available or possible for you with your specific criminal record it is best to seek formal legal advice. We’ll introduce you to someone who can help you with that later.
Legally, a person no longer has to disclose an incident that has been expunged from their record once the process of expungement is completed. (There are limited exceptions.)
The benefits of getting an expungement: It can be very helpful with things like the application you fill out when applying for a new job, new apartment, applying for classes, etc.
If you’re applying for a job as a federal contractor or any type of employment with the federal government, however, it works a bit differently.
Depending on the jurisdiction, how those prior criminal records are handled can differ during the expungement process. In some cases, the dissemination or release of records is prohibited. In other cases, the person’s records are purged from the county and state’s record keeping systems, and the physical copies of the court’s documents relating to the matter are destroyed. Further, in some instances, you may be entitled to deny the existence of records through the legal protection provided by expungement without fear of committing perjury.
In Indiana to petition a court to expunge an adult criminal conviction or arrest history you are required to prepare a court filing called a “petition,” which can be a complicated process, while some other case types – such as with juvenile arrest records – are automatically sealed. In addition, Indiana recently passed new laws regarding the expungement process that will make expungement a process done automatically by a court in certain situations after the requisite period of time has passed for cases charged after June 30, 2022. You will need to speak with a lawyer to see if any of your cases fall under the special circumstances of these new laws.
Do bear in mind, that no matter how much your legal record is erased from public records, in some cases, the offense or crime may not be erased from the minds of others who may have participated in the case as an attorney, or maybe a victim, or from your own – unfortunately, this is the one area expungement cannot work its seeming magic.
Can your record be expunged? In addition to getting the advice of a lawyer, a number of aspects will weigh in regarding the answer to that question. They will include:
Regardless of your answers to the questions listed above, your best bet for getting your criminal expungement process moving and successfully granted is to hire the best legal counsel you can.
Looking to have your past convictions expunged? Are you wondering which offenses are eligible to be petitioned for an expungement now, and which are not? We can help. No matter what kind of trouble you’re facing – you need a dedicated criminal defense lawyer. Contact us at (317) 721-9858.
Did you or someone you know go to trial for a criminal offense? Were they found guilty? If so, you might consider post-conviction relief, particularly if you believe the convicted person had inadequate legal representation; bad advice from counsel; had their constitutional rights violated in the process of the conviction; the sentence they received was flawed or in excess of the maximum sentence allowed by law; the sentence has expired and they are being unlawfully held in excess of the sentence they were ordered to serve; or if there is new evidence in the case that rightfully should bring the conviction into question.
But why? When you’re shopping for a new house, applying for bank loans, enrolling in school, or seeking a new job, it can be troublesome to serve a criminal conviction or have it still coming up on your record. Criminal convictions can affect relationships, voting rights, gun ownership rights, and more.
When a person has a criminal conviction on their record, it has immediate and lifelong consequences. Convictions don’t just disappear, and they generally take several years after serving the sentence to be legally able to pursue getting their criminal record expunged. Having a criminal case result in a conviction is oftentimes scary for the convicted person and their family, because of the uncertainty over their long-term future that comes with it. You might be wondering: what can I do about this, if anything? Speak to a criminal defense attorney to see if you qualify for post-conviction hearing.
When court cases don’t go their way, a criminal defendant may feel that they weren’t represented adequately or that the outcome was unfair. It is possible the convicted person was indeed guilty, but that doesn’t mean they deserve to have the rest of their life permanently negatively affected by it.
Post-conviction relief is not the only option available to criminal defendants after a conviction or a sentence, and it is not available to everyone. A defendant may apply for a sentence modification or start with a direct appeal, instead. A sentence modification, post-conviction relief, and a direct appeal are all legal remedies that are available to a person convicted of a crime while they are still actively serving the sentence for the crime they were convicted of, but each form of relief is different in what it could do for their case if successful. Most defendants spring right for the direct appeal, without considering the full range of options available to them. A criminal defense attorney can help you explore these options to find the path that is best for you.
Is pursuing post-conviction relief worth it to seek to have an active sentence adjusted? In general, a post-conviction relief petition challenges what happened at the criminal trial like making the claim that something occurred at the trial that was illegal or in violation of the criminal defendant’s constitutional rights, that the criminal defendant’s attorney did not provide proper or adequate assistance of counsel, or that there is new evidence that came to light since the conviction was first entered.
A direct appeal has a statute of limitations–a time limit–that you must file within. For Appeals made in Indiana, a person seeking an appeal has thirty (30) days after receiving a final judgment in their case, which in the criminal context is generally the time the criminally charged defendant was sentenced. However, post-conviction relief may still be available to you even if the thirty day requirement for making a direct appeal has already expired.
Your post-conviction relief lawyer’s first line of defense may be a claim that you did not receive effective assistance of counsel in your trial, even where you pled guilty. If this claim does not work for your specific case, there are a number of other claims for post-conviction relief your lawyer can explore. Indiana Rule of Procedure for Post-Conviction Relief Rule 1, Section 1, states the grounds for post-conviction relief are: (1) That the conviction or the sentence in your case was in violation of the Federal or Indiana State Constitution, (2) That the sentencing court was without jurisdiction to impose a sentence in your case, (3) That the sentence exceeds the maximum sentence allowed by law or is otherwise flawed, (4) That there exists evidence of material facts not previously heard by the sentencing Court that requires vacation of the conviction or sentence in the interest of justice, (5) That the convicted person’s sentence has expired, or their parole, probation, or conditional release was unlawfully revoked, or they are otherwise being unlawfully held in custody or under other restraint, and (6) that the sentence or conviction imposed is otherwise subject to collateral attack on any other legal ground.
One important aspect is that your request must be filed with the court as soon as possible. Otherwise, even if you have grounds for your request, the court may dismiss your petition.
It’s crucial that you immediately contact a post-conviction relief lawyer if you want your criminal record adjusted.
Your post-conviction relief attorney may focus on serious errors, address issues not raised at trial, bring forward newly discovered evidence, and more. If you had ineffective counsel, jury or judge bias, if you’re unlawfully being restrained or held, the maximum authorized sentence was exceeded, your rights were violated – or one of several other circumstances come into play – your post-conviction relief attorney can help you get your life back.
At any time, any person may, under Indiana’s post-conviction relief statute, commence an action for post-conviction relief. This does, of course, apply to persons who are/were sentenced for a crime in the state of Indiana or if they have been convicted of a crime in Indiana. If you need help, contact us right away. Click here to send a message via email.
Would you know what to do if, you were facing conviction for one of these two crimes in Indiana?
First of all, let’s look at what these terms mean and how they’re different.
Theft is an encompassing category of a larger scope of crimes; think of it as an “umbrella” offense for which robbery and burglary are specific examples. Robbery and burglary are the two most common crimes where theft is concerned. Even though many people think they are the same, theft, robbery, and burglary are quite different. . A criminal defense attorney can help you navigate their differences and how it may affect the outcome of your case.
To better familiarize you with the differences between them, we’re going to look at burglary versus robbery.
If, over the property of another person, someone intentionally or knowingly exerts unauthorized control – with the intent of taking away the other person’s use or value of the property – they are committing theft.
The severity of the punishment faced will change depending on whether the crime is robbery or burglary.
Someone who enters/breaks into a residential or commercial property for the purpose of stealing something or committing a felony is a burglar. All types of burglary count as felony crimes in Indiana. Higher punishments may be dealt out if a deadly weapon was used in a burglary that occurred in a dwelling or home.
Burglary types:
In Indiana, the felony level system starts with Level 6 felony as least serious and becomes more serious as the number decreases. A Level 1 is the most serious of felony crimes, other than Murder which has no number associated with it
Unlike burglary, which always requires breaking and entering, a robbery only requires that a person use violence, intimidation, or force to commit a theft. It’s considered armed robbery if that person uses a deadly weapon to commit the crime. This offense is more serious than basic robbery and, as you might expect, carries more serious consequences..
Robbery types:
A person is robbing a bank if they:
A person is burglarizing a bank if:
Here’s another example:
In criminal defense, details matter. That’s why it’s best to get in touch with a qualified, experienced criminal defense attorney as soon as possible. Here’s who to contact.
To zealously serve your needs as criminal defense lawyers, we at The Law Office of Jesse K. Sanchez are ready. Don’t hesitate to contact us for help if, anywhere in Indiana, you’ve been charged with a major felony. We take your battle personally.
Scared? Uncertain how to go forward? We’re here for you. Together, we’ll follow the path that’s best for your interests. Contact us today at our Indianapolis office by phoning (317) 721-9858. Click here to send a message via email.
Are you facing a serious charge after being accused of a crime? If so, it is important that you are prepared before heading to court. The best thing you can do to protect yourself is to hire a criminal defense attorney.
Criminal law in Indiana can impose severe penalties on people and have devastating effects on the family members of the accused. Even the lowest level misdemeanor in Indiana, i.e., the C Misdemeanor, what you may think of as a “petty crime,” can carry up to 60 days in jail and a 500 dollar fine.
Some examples of C Misdemeanors in Indiana may not even sound like crimes. Here are a few that may surprise you:
| Possession of a Chinese Throwing Star | Indiana Code 35-47-5-12 |
| Illegal Discharging of Fireworks | Indiana Code 22-11-14-6 |
| llegal Fishing or Hunting | Indiana Code 14-22-38-1 |
| Taking liquor into restaurant or place of public entertainment | Indiana Code 7.1-5-8-6 |
| Refusal to provide ID to a Police officer | Indiana Code 34-28-5-3.5 |
| Having a Blue Light on Your Car or Truck> | Indiana Code 9-19-14-5.5 |
A few hours in jail can cause psychological trauma to a perfectly normal person. Getting booked and held in jail is a brutal experience.
However, if you’re like most people, and you are forced to do 60, 30, or even a week in jail, this could easily mean catastrophic personal consequences for you or loved ones. Lost jobs, lost homes, financial setbacks, and damaged relationships are consequences of forced confinement.
First and foremost, you need a criminal defense attorney who is aware of the stakes, even for the so-called petty crimes. These matters are serious because it’s not “just a week in jail.” Your Indiana criminal defense attorney needs to understand that and advise you accordingly.
It is unfortunate that most Indiana citizens do not understand what their basic rights are under State, local, and federal laws. If this is you, don’t blame yourself, you were probably like me and taught almost nothing about the practical side of law and politics in school, even through college. It’s just not an openly discussed topic. Consequently, I had to go to law school to learn the harsh realities of the state’s legal system.
However, even if you do understand many of these laws and have been there before, it is unlikely that you know how to practically apply these laws in a courtroom setting. Without this knowledge, you will be severely disadvantaged when trying to defend yourself.
How do you object? Do you stand up when you talk? Where do you stand? Are arguments on paper or made orally? Can you make a deal? What are the limits of the deals you can make? Can you ask for a delay? A jury? A dismissal? Can you ask that evidence be suppressed?
Figure all of these questions out in ONE COURTROOM and you’re off to a good start. It is important to note that every single court and county in Indiana has its differences. The rules change depending on where you go.
You cannot do this alone if you want to achieve effective results.
You need a guide to walk this path with you. So, for the best possible defense, an experienced and qualified criminal defense attorney is mandatory. The experience and powerful support they bring to the table are priceless.
A good criminal defense attorney gives you options. Here’s what I mean.
1) It can go to trial (where you can win or lose)
2) It can settle – where you can plead guilty to something in exchange for some clarity about your sentence
3) It can be dismissed (either voluntarily by the government or involuntarily, if your defense attorney forces it).
To assist you in getting through the ordeal of a criminal charge, a criminal defense attorney should be able to walk you through each option and help you understand what the realistic possibilities are for you and your life.
If we’re considering a trial, the first option named above – your criminal defense attorney should be able to discuss the evidence with you in a realistic way. What are your real chances of winning? How can we improve those chances? What witnesses can we call to make those chances better? What evidence can we bring or counter from the government to make this option a real choice? A good criminal defense attorney gives you options by helping weigh these factors out.
Plea agreements work the same way. A qualified criminal defense attorney is crucial to understanding what the law provides as options for potential plea details, and what’s even legally possible. But a criminal defense attorney also lets you know how far the government can be negotiated, how far they can be pushed, and how your options can improve. A blog post on getting good plea agreements will be published in the near future. For now, understand that you cannot know how good your deal can be unless you have someone on your side pushing back.
Criminal defense attorneys give you options.
Your situation is unique. You’re a person with unique skills, deficits, worries and concerns. For that reason, your criminal defense attorney should be prepared to take your individual needs into account when assisting you. In other words, your case needs individual attention.
There is a whole theory of criminal defense that involves being “client-centered” and it is absolutely what we do at the Law Office of Jesse K. Sanchez. In short, we give you the personalized attention you need. Your criminal defense attorney has your back. Throughout the process, they will guide you and support you. They will advise you and even tell you when they think you are wrong or making a huge mistake.
It is absolutely critical to have the personalized attention of a criminal defense attorney right from the get-go.
Your future is at stake if you’re facing a criminal charge, but the consequences of a criminal conviction do not stop with potential fines, jail, or probation. Criminal convictions come with a host of collateral consequences like reputational damage, civil liability, loss of civil rights including voting rights and gun ownership/possession rights, or immigration consequences. A qualified criminal defense attorney takes these things into account when advising their clients.
The lawyers at the Law Office of Jesse K. Sanchez are not fortune tellers. We cannot see the future or guarantee how a certain case will go. But, years of experience in this field makes us very good at predicting outcomes and assessing the strengths and weaknesses of cases.
From the laws themselves to the court system to your basic rights, they are highly knowledgeable. They also know how to take that knowledge and apply it to achieve the best possible legal outcome.
Whatever criminal case you’re facing, there’s bound to be some kind of evidence. To review that evidence, your prosecution uses experts in their field.
If evidence has been tampered with or collected illegally, a proficient and seasoned criminal defense attorney knows how to detect such issues. They are knowledgeable in handling witnesses who may exaggerate, “expert” witnesses, private investigators, medical practitioners, and more. This is, perhaps, one of the most important skills a good defense attorney brings to the table.
It’s perfectly natural for legal professionals to develop friendly relationships with defense attorneys. Many defense attorneys like to portray an image of obstinacy or aggressiveness but in the real world, a well-established and positive relationship with others is crucial to getting good results for clients.
At The Law Office of Jesse K. Sanchez, we show respect to all courts and legal professionals to ensure that we are always well-received in any courtroom in Indiana we may find ourselves in. With prosecutors, negotiations go smoother when a professional relationship is established and respect are shared by all parties involved. In courtrooms, judges know to take our arguments seriously, as we always strive to only make serious arguments, grounded in evidence and good logic.
Of course, we’re always polite to court staff.
This is common sense and just good ethics. Your criminal defense attorney can use it to your advantage.
Criminal defense lawyers at The Law Office of Jesse K. Sanchez stand ready to meet your legal needs. Whether you’re faced with a DUI, a domestic violence charge, sex crime, drug charge, gun crime, or other felonies, do not hesitate to get in touch with us. Our attorneys will follow the path that’s best for your interests. Contact our Indianapolis or Lafayette office by calling (317) 721-9858. Alternatively, click here to send a message via email.
