As criminal defense lawyers, we are often pigeonholed into doing one thing and one thing only – defending people charged with criminal offenses. What is important to realize is that criminal defense lawyers develop a varied skill set that can help a wide variety of clients. One category of client that can especially benefit from the representation of a criminal defense lawyer is the last person you might expect: a crime victim. If you are the victim of a crime, and you cannot seem to get answers or find out what is going on with your case, you are not alone. Crime victims are often neglected or ignored by prosecutors. If you want your case to be heard, don’t hesitate to contact an experienced St. Petersburg criminal defense lawyer right away.
Victims in domestic violence offenses are unique. They are unique in that they exercise both an enormous amount of control over the case, yet command an extremely small level of respect from prosecutors. Most domestic violence offenses cannot possibly go forward without the cooperation of the victim. Yet when those same victims express to prosecutors that they do not in fact want to pursue charges, the prosecutors often ignore them and attempt to pursue the case anyway. Conversely, when the victims express desire to see severe punishments, prosecutors often also ignore that request and allow cases to be resolved without significant penalties to the defendant.
Representing Victims of Domestic Violence CrimeHiring a lawyer to protect your interests if you are the victim of domestic violence can sometimes make all the difference. Lawyers are simply afforded a different level of access to the court system and to prosecutors in order to make things happen. Prosecutors dealing with domestic violence cases are often overwhelmed by their caseloads and overworked by the criminal justice system. If your case is not on their radar, it may fall through the cracks and simply be overlooked by the state attorney assigned to your case. Hiring a lawyer to represent you can help to ensure that your case does not sit on the backburner, regardless of what your goal is. A skilled St. Petersburg criminal defense attorney can help keep the case focused on your best interest and achieve the outcome you want.
If your goal is to get the charges dropped against your loved one, a lawyer can help you do that. Prosecutors are notorious for misstating facts and sometimes blatantly lying to courts about the intentions of victims in many cases. A lawyer appearing on your behalf can prevent a prosecutor from misconstruing your desires and can clearly communicate your intentions to the court. Retaining a lawyer can help expedited the dismissal of charges and can facilitate getting your family back together.
If your desire is instead to ensure a conviction and stiff penalties, a lawyer can communicate that to the court to prevent it from accepting a lenient plea dale that benefits the defense. An attorney can also help you to file an injunction or request a protective order so that even if the criminal charges don’t stick, you can be protected against the perpetrator of the crime. If you are the victim of crime, don’t assume that the criminal justice system will have your back. Often, victims of crime also become victims of the system itself. Hiring a dedicated St. Petersburg criminal lawyer can help prevent that from happening.
Speak to Our Lawyers TodayThe attorneys at Hanlon Law have the skillset to represent defendants, victims and witnesses. We pride ourselves on zealously seeking the resolutions desired by our clients and adopting their goals as our own. If you are in need of a criminal lawyer, don’t hesitate to contact us right away for a consultation at 727.289.0222.