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Through most of life’s trials it is always important to have an experienced lawyer on your side, especially if you have been faced with a serious criminal charge. Unless you qualify for the free or reduced-fee services of a public defender or court-appointed attorney, defendants faced with the possibility of going to jail or prison should always hire a Utah criminal defense lawyer. It does not matter how intelligent you are or what kind of educational background you have, the criminal justice system makes it very difficult for people to competently represent themselves in a criminal case. There are a lot of variables involved in criminal cases, and only an experienced criminal defense specialist is equipped to deal with them all, and provide the type of representation that every criminal defendant needs to see justice done. Utah criminal defense lawyers do more than question witnesses in a courtroom. They also negotiate deals with prosecutors, often arranging for reduced charges and lesser sentencing. If you were representing yourself, prosecutors would most likely be uncooperative during negotiations. Utah criminal defense lawyers also formulate sentencing programs tailored to a client’s specific needs, often helping defendants avoid future brushes with the criminal justice system. They help defendants cope with the feelings of fear, embarrassment and reduced self-esteem that criminal charges tend to produce in many people. They can also provide the defendant with a knowledgeable perspective on their situation and tell them what it likely to happen if their case goes to trial. Defendants need this perspective when deciding whether they should accept a prosecutor’s offered plea bargain. Imagine all the legal rules that you would have to know and understand if you were representing yourself in a criminal case. Many criminal law rules are hidden away in court interpretations of federal and state constitutions. An experienced Utah criminal defense lawyer is familiar with all of these important legal rules. They are also familiar with court customs and procedures that are not written down. A Utah criminal defense lawyer understands the possible hidden costs of pleading guilty - someone you might never think about if you were representing yourself. A good lawyer can choose to spend time on a case that a defendant cannot afford to spend. If you choose to represent yourself, you could miss out on important information from prosecution witnesses because they are too afraid to speak to someone they think is guilty. A Utah criminal defense lawyer can hire and manage investigators who may be able to contradict prosecution witnesses who embellish or change their stories at trial. There is a big difference between what you read in a book and what is practiced in a courtroom. The gulf between paper and practice in criminal cases is made more difficult when you try to represent yourself. Some defendants think that if they read books about laws that define crimes, fix punishments for their violation and mandate courtroom procedures, they will understand the system. But criminal law cannot be understood through books alone. Criminal law is vast, shifting and unpredictable, and only an experienced Utah criminal defense lawyer is equipped to understand how to react to all the unexpected variables. You choose to represent yourself at your own peril. At the very least, any defendant should choose to hire a lawyer to be their legal coach so they have someone to consult.
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