Facing any type of criminal charges can be daunting and life-changing. Whether you are charged with a misdemeanor or felony, it's crucial to seek legal assistance as soon as possible. You should take the situation seriously even if the offense is deemed a misdemeanor. These are five ways criminal defense lawyers can help reduce charges.

1- Analyzing All Evidence

When taking on your case, the first thing your criminal defense attorney will do is analyze all the available evidence. If anything is lacking, they might seek further information by using an investigative team to determine the facts. Often, in criminal cases, attorneys will also look into whether foul play or contamination of physical evidence is a factor. They may also speak with law enforcement to determine whether everything was done by the book. For instance, if there's evidence of tampering or an illegal search by the police, your attorney may be able to get the charges against you dropped.

2- Presenting Crucial Mitigating Factors

In some cases, mitigating factors may be present to explain why a crime was committed in the first place. For example, if you struggle with mental health problems or substance use disorder, your charges may be reduced. Depending on the circumstances, you might be ordered into a rehabilitation program or ordered to serve probation instead of being sentenced to prison. This can make a big difference, not only in your case but also in your future.

3- Negotiating Plea Bargains

One of the best ways your criminal defense attorney can help you is by negotiating a plea bargain. This is one of the most valuable tools they can use in your case. If they have seasoned negotiation skills and the facts support a plea deal, this can help you. It can result in a significantly lesser sentence or reduced charges. In some cases, you might even be able to get credit for time served or only be penalized through probation and fines.

4- Seeking Sentence Reductions

Sometimes, defendants get harsher sentences than they deserve. Even if you are already serving time, a dedicated criminal defense attorney can discover fresh evidence in your case to determine whether this is fair. If they determine the punishment does not fit the crime, your lawyer can fight to get your sentence reduced. Even if there's no new evidence, you may get a sentence reduction because you've made real efforts to show you have changed and are remorseful.

5- Appealing on Your Behalf

Finally, if the decision in your case results in a conviction or harsh sentence, your criminal defense lawyer can file an appeal. This is warranted if the evidence supports a conviction for a lesser crime or a lighter sentence. Your attorney can review court transcripts and seek out potential mistakes and other issues that support the appeal process.

Criminal defense lawyers offer numerous ways to help the people they represent, but one of the largest ways is helping to reduce the charges. Speak to a legal representative on whether the charges can be reduced in your specific case.