When to Hire a Criminal Defense Attorney in South Carolina?

Whether it is your first time dealing with the criminal justice system or not, facing criminal charges is often terrifying. When should you hire a criminal defense attorney in South Carolina? The answer is that you should hire a criminal defense attorney as soon as possible. Even if you are only being investigated or questioned about a criminal offense, you need legal support.

Regardless of whether the criminal charges are a false accusation, the result of a misunderstanding, or a mistake you made, you must take steps to protect your rights.

In South Carolina, there was a violent crime rate of 511.3 per 100,000 inhabitants in 2019, compared to 488.3 per 100,000 in 2018. The property crime rate of the state in 2019 was 2,940.3 per 100,000, compared to 3,017.6 in 2018. In 2023, the violent crime rate was 491.0 per 100,000 population, while the property crime rate was 2,311.1 per 100,000 population.

The impact of a criminal conviction can be substantial, harming you financially, removing years of freedom, and having collateral consequences that change your entire life. You should never wait to hire an attorney or assume the situation will resolve itself in your favor. You need to act.

What Situations Should You Hire an Attorney?

You should hire a criminal defense attorney if:

• You have been interrogated, questioned, or investigated for a crime
• Law enforcement officers have a warrant or a request to conduct a search
• Your property was searched and/or seized
• You were involved in a crime, including aiding or planning
• You are being accused of a crime
• You were arrested
• You have been charged with a criminal offense
• You were convicted of a crime and need to appeal the decision

What Does an Attorney Do for You?

Having a skilled and diligent criminal defense attorney is crucial in the criminal justice system, as effective legal representation can give you the greatest chance of reducing or preventing the consequences of conviction. An attorney can do a lot for you, including:

1. Protect your rights. An attorney helps you defend your rights, including retroactively and into the future. Your attorney can help prevent you from saying things that are incriminating and ensure that law enforcement respects your rights during a search. If law enforcement has already violated your rights, such as failing to obtain evidence properly, then an attorney can take action to challenge that evidence and secure justice.
2. Build your defense. An attorney has the resources and experience to investigate the offense you are being accused of, talk with witnesses, review evidence, and analyze the case the prosecution has. All of this helps build a strong defense case and secures important evidence before it is erased or forgotten.
3. Explain your options. There are many different ways that a criminal case could be resolved, including a plea deal, dismissal, acquittal, and conviction. An attorney looks over the specifics of your case and provides you with individualized legal advice about what you can do and what your ideal outcome is for the charges against you. This helps you understand the situation with more clarity.
4. Provide you with legal knowledge. Legal proceedings and requirements are complicated, and lawyers have the education and experience to navigate these processes. When you work with an attorney, you will have an experienced professional who knows and can explain the criminal justice system to you.

What Happens If You Wait Too Long to Hire an Attorney?

If you are being investigated or questioned, you may feel the situation isn’t serious enough to need an attorney. That isn’t the case. By waiting, you may miss crucial opportunities or say something that worsens your situation. You may miss the chance for a plea deal that is incredibly beneficial, or you may miss important evidence to support your defense. You may even say something incriminating. All this could increase the chances of conviction.

The longer you wait, the more time the prosecution has to build a case against you. They begin to investigate and build a case as soon as you are suspected of a crime. The sooner you work with an attorney, the better. An attorney can give you advice on what to say and seize crucial opportunities.

FAQs

What Is the Cost of a Criminal Defense Lawyer?

The cost of a criminal defense lawyer varies based on the attorney and the specifics of your case. A more experienced attorney will likely have a higher rate, and so will attorneys located in a city. The more severe your charges are and the more complicated your case, the higher the costs are likely to be. Most attorney fees are hourly rates for criminal cases, so the longer a case takes, the more costly it will be.

When Should You Hire a Criminal Defense Attorney?

You should hire a criminal defense lawyer as soon as possible if you have been arrested or charged with a crime, or even if you have been investigated or questioned about a crime. Regardless of whether you committed the crime or not, you need legal representation to protect your rights. The sooner you contact an attorney, the more time they have to investigate the offense and build a strong case to mitigate the consequences.

What Are Three Common Situations When You Should Consider Seeing a Criminal Lawyer?

You should consider seeing a criminal lawyer if you are being investigated for a criminal offense, if you have been arrested or charged with a criminal offense, or if you were involved in a crime or are aware of a crime. An attorney can help you understand your rights, advise you on what you should and should not say, and help you build a defense. If you go to trial or are convicted, there is still hope. Find an attorney.

Why Would I Need a Criminal Defense Attorney?

You need a criminal defense attorney to protect your rights and future in the criminal justice system. You can’t assume that because you are innocent of a crime, you will be found innocent. Sadly, many people are wrongfully or harshly convicted.

The criminal justice system can be complex and difficult to navigate. Working with an attorney helps you understand the options you have for your case, become aware of the likely outcomes, and also provides you with needed emotional support.

Contact Our Firm

If you are in need of a compassionate and dedicated criminal defense lawyer, contact the Law Office of Charles T. Brooks III today.