As a Chula Vista criminal defense lawyer, I know that being charged with a crime can happen to anyone. A person may be charged with a crime even when police officers do not have probable cause for an arrest. A person of excellent character in his or her community may be out on the town and enjoying cocktails, when all of a sudden he or she is the cause of a DUI accident. There are many ways in which crime can occur in seemingly unintentional ways, and it is important for those who have been charged with crimes to get in touch with a Chula Vista criminal defense attorney so that they can stand up for their legal rights.

In Chula Vista, criminal matters are handled in the criminal division of the South San Diego County Courthouse. It is important to hire an attorney who is familiar with the local court rules that are used by the South San Diego County Courthouse. You want to make sure that a Chula Vista criminal defense attorney is able to abide by these local court rules in filling out the legal paperwork for your case. It will also be beneficial for your case if criminal defense attorneys are familiar with the judges who work in the court system in South Bay San Diego.

There may be a variety of defenses that a Chula Vista criminal defense lawyer can raise on your behalf at trial. You may have had to protect yourself in self-defense from someone else’s violence. Perhaps you are a spouse who has endured years of physical abuse, and you reached your breaking point in a fight with your spouse. Battered Spouse Syndrome is a real condition and can be used in conjunction with a self-defense claim in your trial. It is important to discuss any applicable defenses that can be raised in the course of your trial with a Chula Vista criminal defense attorney.

Also, there may be instances in which a criminal defense attorney can argue that your charges should be decreased. An attorney may wish to argue that the facts of your case better match a different type of crime. During the plea bargaining stage of your case, it may be possible for a criminal defense attorney to convince the prosecution that an entirely different claim should be raised in your case. A charge of murder may be decreased to a charge of involuntary manslaughter in your case. The prosecutor may be unable to show that you had the requisite mens rea or actus rea in order to commit a murder crime. It may be that a killing occurred in a way that was not planned and without knowledge. In this case, a person may be charged with involuntary manslaughter as opposed to murder.

Getting in touch with a Chula Vista criminal defense attorney is always in the best interest of an individual. It is important to speak with a Chula Vista criminal defense attorney so that you can assert your legal rights throughout your trial. You may wish to discuss the different steps of your trial. Perhaps you are unfamiliar with the plea bargaining process. The plea bargaining process can provide you with a valuable opportunity to assert your legal rights. You may wish to enter a plea of nolo contendere or not guilty during the pleading stage.

Having a South Bay San Diego criminal defense lawyer will provide you with support throughout your case. You can benefit from the guidance that a Chula Vista criminal defense lawyer will provide in your case. He or she will ensure that you are fully aware of each step of your trial.