Your need for a Colorado lawyer with the DAs, courts, and police is pretty easy to identify. Do you know what is a good plea agreement for your charge in Denver County? Do you know what problems may arise later in your life based on the plea you are making in Jefferson County? Did you do what the police accuse you of doing in Estes Park?
I will be the first to admit that not everyone needs a lawyer. Take the person accused of a crime in Lakewood who admits to the crime of Theft, for example. If they are happy with the possible punishment and want to accept what the District Attorney gives them, then no need for a lawyer. Yet if time in jail is a problem, if you want to plead to a reduced charge or plead not guilty and go to trial, you need a lawyer.
We can generally get a reduced jail sentence for our clients when jail is required. We can propose options to straight jail – like a weekend jail or in-home detention. I have had clients in the Arapahoe County Jail who have served work release or weekends only jail sentences. Some jails, like the Douglas County Jail, refuse to allow people with certain offenses to serve work release sentences. I have been able to use my knowlege of the law to get the DA agree to no jail when jail was first proposed.
Trial in Adams County or other Colorado jurisdictions is a difficult process and requires specialized knowledge of jury selection, objections and evidence admissibility rules. When you do a trial without a lawyer, you are held to the same standard as an attorney. Without experience and training, you cannot compete against a District Attorney who has been to law school and passed the Colorado bar exam. Don’t expect District Attorneys to seek justice either – they want to win.
So, the answer is yes, most of the time you do need a lawyer. It is rare that you don’t, after being contacted by the police. I remember an old advertisement by Bell motorcycle helmets when I was a boy. They said, “if you’ve got a $10 head, get a $10 helmet”. The principle remains today. It sometimes takes money to get the best result.
Shop around and find a lawyer you can trust with your life. Prison, jail, sex offender labeling, restraining orders to stay away from your children, are all important matters of life. Don’t trust just anyone – find a lawyer you can trust with the most important parts of your life. DAs, Courts and police all have specialized knowledge and motives which can impact you.
If you need a lawyer, we give a free in-office consultation. Come and see us. You will learn a ton about your charges and your case. Be smart, exercise your right to remain silent, and call us today at 303-731-0719. Together, we can protect your future.