If you are facing accusations in any situation, you have the right to defend yourself. In Phoenix, the law enables a person accused of a crime to fight back against the prosecution and present their case to the court. The Phoenix court may assign you a defense lawyer, or you may employ any Phoenix criminal defense lawyer on your own. The lawyer will assist you with the lawsuit and any potential repercussions that may arise.

Criminal Trial Process Phases

From arrest through sentencing, the criminal justice system typically follows three steps:

1. Arrest:

The case begins with arrest and then the defense counsel is assigned or hired. At this point, the lawyers begin their work. They meet first and attempt to persuade the prosecutor not to launch the official case. 

2. Prosecution

The court informs the defendant of the criminal charges in the second stage of the procedure. It is also made known if the defendant has the option of pleading guilty or not guilty to the accusations. 

3. Judgement:

When the “accused” enters a non-guilty plea, the matters progress to the adjudication stage. At this point, the defense attorney is allowed to present the case and pertinent material. A direct trial will be held if the accused is charged with a misdemeanor unless the matter is resolved through plea bargaining.

Most Common Defense Practice Cases:

There are several sorts of cases that a defense attorney may encounter. However, the following are a few of the most common:

Drunk Driving:

DUI (driving under the influence) can result in significant consequences such as losing your license for a year, spending time in county jail, or paying substantial fines.  

Drug-related Offences

Drug crime has highly significant criminal codes in law, ranging from the possession of restricted narcotics to its trafficking.

Assault & Battery Related Crimes:

Assault refers to intentional physical harm to another person, whereas battery refers to the intentional use of physical force on another person. The severity of the sentence is determined by the extent of the victim’s injury.

Domestic Violence:

Domestic violence is a specific type of lawsuit that can be filed against family members, relatives, and close connections, such as a husband, parent, or dating partner. Domestic violence includes the crimes such as rape, abuse, stalking, and kidnapping under the law. Verdicts and fines (penalties) may be imposed as a result of the case. 

Theft and Robbery-related Offences:

Small to large robberies are included, as well as grand larceny, fraud, and car theft. The case’s severity is determined by how the crime was committed and whether guns were involved. 

Weapons Crimes:

Any illegal possession of a weapon and any other crimes committed with the weapon are considered weapon crimes. Illegal possession can have serious consequences, which might worsen if you have a history of prior violations. It can affect one’s reputation and jeopardize a variety of rights.

Crimes Involving Sex: 

Sexual crimes range from sexual harassment to rape. Statutory rape, prostitution, marital rape, child abuse, and indecent exposure, as well as sexual harassment and rape, are all covered by the law.

A criminal defense lawyer is an expert at handling such cases and can inform the implications of a case even before you hear your first hearing.