Criminal law otherwise known as penal law is the organ that relates to punishment and crime. The omission or act of violating a public law by either commanding or forbidding it is a crime. Criminal law normalizes persons behavior and social conduct and proscribes anything that threatens, harms and endangers people moral welfare, their safety or health and property as well. When the government prosecutes people for actions that are termed as a crime that is criminal law. It includes punishing people who go against laws either by property forfeiture, fine or imprisonment among others.
When a company or an individual is faced with committing a crime that is when a criminal lawyer who is also a criminal defense lawyer that specializes with defending them comes in handy. Several of these lawyers are in private practice or in a law firm. There are those who work for the government as public defenders or non-profit agencies. Public defenders are lawyers appointed in court to stand in for defendants that are unable to hire a lawyer. Fraud, embezzlement, theft, drug crimes, violent crimes, sex crimes, domestic violence crimes are some of the criminal cases that criminal lawyers handle. Clients of criminal cases also get counsel and guidance from criminal lawyers. These lawyers go to appellate or trial courts to represent the accused or defendants who have been charged with criminal cases.
Criminal lawyers have a range of representation which includes post-conviction remedies, appeals, probation or parole, trial and bail hearing. Carefully studying the case, the statutes and procedural law and researching case law are some of the roles that a criminal lawyer should do. Criminal lawyers must have a strategy for the case and create a strong defense. They are expected to file, draft and argue on behalf of the accused. Criminal lawyers should negotiate with the prosecution to plead for lesser charges. Representation in an appellate court of law on behalf of the accused is also a role for a criminal lawyer. Excellent written and oral advocacy skills are some traits that criminal lawyers should have to be able to represent their client before a judge or persuade a jury. To build a client case and establish a strong defense, a criminal lawyer should have strong investigative and research skills. If an accused person does not hire a criminal defense lawyer, they risk harming their interests or waiving their own rights that is why they engage lawyers to protect their rights.
There is a criminal prosecutor who brings out a case in a criminal trial against an accused person. Criminal prosecutors must provide proof showing the defendant is guilty. A criminal prosecutor must do so since a criminal defendant is deemed innocent until proved otherwise.
Why not learn more about Lawyers?
The Ultimate Guide to Services