Hiring a Criminal Defense Lawyer for a Felon Important Facts to Know

Criminal defense lawyers know your life and liberty is greatly at risk of being cut down from a criminal felony charge. Even if you are criminally charged for a felony and not convicted you can still lose your job and suffer greatly from the social stigma. If charges have not been filed and you are being criminally investigated, now is the best time to hire a criminal defense lawyer. A lawyer will preserve evidence in your favor and bring it to the prosecutor's or police's attention before they file charges. In most cases it is much easier for a lawyer to prevent criminal charges from being filed then trying to get them dismissed after charges have been filed.

Criminal Defense Lawyers Protect You from the Government's Power

If you have been arrested, indicted, or are being investigated for a criminal offense, you need an experienced criminal defense lawyer to protect your life. The earlier a criminal lawyer intercedes on your behalf, the better your chances of having a better result on your case. A criminal defense lawyer can protect rights you may not even be aware of in an investigation by police, prosecutor or detectives. It is very unusual and rare for a defendant charged with a serious crime to not benefit from having a private lawyer. A criminal defense lawyer will protect you from the government's power and use of coercion, especially from overzealous prosecutors.

The Government Provides Public Defenders to Those Who Can't Afford a Private Lawyer

Public defenders are lawyers that work for the government. Government-appointed lawyers are hired and paid by the state on a case-by-case basis. A public defender or appointed lawyer is made available to those not able to pay for a private lawyer. In such instances, you are not entitled to pick your lawyer, who may or may not have experience with your particular type of criminal law case.

You Have the Right to a Private Criminal Defense Lawyer

Private criminal defense lawyers having great case results are able to do so because they work with a team of top criminal lawyers, have a slew of experts and resources, and also have the necessary time to work on your case. All jurisdictions in the United States allow all persons to have a private criminal defense lawyer. It is your right, as stated in the United States constitution, to be represented by a lawyer for any type of case. You also have the right to a lawyer at any stage of the case, even before charges are filed and you are only questioned.

A Felony Charge Can Severely Hurt Your Life Forever

When convicted of a felony crime, whether you go to prison or not, your life may suffer serious consequences during imprisonment and after. Even if a criminal case is dismissed, when a case is filed, there is still a stain on the defendant's record that may appear in a background check. No lawyer can stop your criminal record from showing up in an internet background check that comes up in seconds with the click of a button. A criminal conviction on your record will affect your ability to get any job, housing, obtaining a job license, getting a mortgage, higher education schooling, student loans, any government assistance programs and more. Furthermore, here if you are convicted of a felony you are usually not eligible for low-income housing.

60% of Ex-Felons Remain Unemployed, Many Become Homeless

A 2007 study done by the National Institute of Justice found 60% of ex-felon offenders remain unemployed a year after their release. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation states that 75% people convicted of a felony are unemployed. Many unemployed felons have a low quality of life as panhandlers, camp out on the street and the lucky ones stay in homeless shelters, and eat at soup kitchens. Being unemployed makes a former criminal offender more likely to commit a crime and land right back in prison. The facts are clear, once you have been convicted of a crime you may end up revolving in and out of prison for the rest of your life or homeless.