Burglary and theft are considered property offences. The punishment varies as per the degree of the invasion charge. The sentence issued by the court can be a penalty in the form of money or imprisonment for a specific period or both.
The final decision over the punishment depends on the aggravation of the crime, the charges proved against you, the evidence submitted, and the particular state’s laws regarding the home invasion. A criminal lawyer will help represent you in court.
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Why Hire a Lawyer?
Hiring a criminal lawyer possessing enough experience and expertise will increase the chances of an outcome in your favour. A criminal lawyer understands complex court procedures, the laws, and most importantly, your specific needs as a client. The process will be easier when the services of a criminal lawyer are engaged.
Determine the Severity of Charges
The charges filed on you decide the grade of the severity. The first-degree invasion is the most severe offence. The prosecutor will try to prove you broke into the property of another person without permission and with the intent to commit an assault, robbery, or felony inside.
The second-degree invasion may or may not involve the use of a deadly weapon inside the property. Third-degree invasion is committed when a person breaks into a home, has the intent to commit, or does commit a misdemeanour once inside.
Gathering Evidence
A criminal lawyer will try to gather all the facts and pieces of evidence of the case that would help demonstrate your innocence to the court. The lawyer will aggressively defend your case and will carefully evaluate all the possible defences. They will try to resort to reasonable doubt, mistaken identity, alibi, and authorization to be on the property.
Building a Strong Defence
It may so happen that the act of crime has a few cracks in it to plant a reasonable doubt. If your lawyer presents it to the jury with expertise, it can help you clear all the home invasion charges against you.
It happens if you did not invade in the first place, or you have a tight alibi for the specific time and place of the crime, or you had committed the crime but not out of your will.
In that case, a criminal lawyer can build your case strong enough to prove a reasonable doubt to a jury. You then stand a strong chance of being set free of charges.
Negotiation Skills
Proving the accusations against you false requires a lot of experience and negotiating skills. Your criminal lawyer can use them to prove your innocence. If not, they can at least reduce the grade of the charges filed on you. Your lawyer’s skills can help you defend your case vigorously and have a reduced sentence of punishment.
Providing a defence in home invasion cases requires the expertise of a criminal lawyer. They can build a solid case and negotiate the facts to prove your innocence. That will help you get in the clear or at least have a reduced sentence. So, start your journey to prove innocence by finding the right professionals to represent you.