Do I have any Other Options Besides Going to Trial?
Every criminal case in Minnesota is different. It may be the charges, the forensics, the witnesses and more that impact where it goes. Some cases should never have been charged. Others may be on the other end of the spectrum and have videotape of the entire incident and probably should never be put before a jury. If you are facing serious criminal charges in Minnesota, sit down with the best criminal defense attorney you can find to which one you are facing.
“Not every case should go to trial. Knowing that is sometimes the most important thing.
What Other Options Do I Have?
Because the evidence, the witnesses, the forensics and the law intersect to help determine the likelihood of a guilty verdict or an acquittal, there are a few other options that you may want to consider if you are facing serious criminal charges in Minnesota. Here are a couple of them:
Plea bargain: Prosecutors simply don’t have the ability or desire to try every case. As a result, it is possible to drive them to negotiate and potentially resolve a case. This might result in lesser charges, lesser time, shorter or no probation, lesser fines and more. It is important to consider that this sometimes is reflected in the quality of the state’s case. Sometimes, it is about the assessment of the conduct versus other similarly situated individuals.
Pre-trial diversion: There are some cases that can be pulled out of the criminal justice process. Essentially, this means that if you fulfill a set of circumstances, your criminal charges might be dismissed completely. These programs are available in a narrow set of cases but they might provide quite an opportunity if they are available.
Dismissal of the case: A case may be dismissed by the prosecutor. In Minnesota, the is sometimes called a 30.01. This happens when the State realizes that they don’t have sufficient evidence to prosecute. The Court also has the power to determine whether a case may be dismissed. Of course, dismissals are not an everyday occurrence.
“Before you think about alternatives to trial, a thorough assessment of the case, the law, the facts and your adversaries should happen.”
This is a pretty simplified set of options. It is important to remember that going down any of these paths can be extraordinarily complicated and it only should happen after a thorough review of all of the evidence. Further, once you step into any of these paths, there may be further complications to consider before making that decision. Working with an experienced Minnesota criminal defense attorney who knows the law, your kind of case and maybe even the players in the room can make a massive different.
Jack Rice in a nationally recognized criminal defense attorney and Board Certified Criminal Law Specialist. He is also a former prosecutor and a former CIA Officer. Contact Jack Rice Defense for a free confidential consultation or call 651-447-7650 or 612-227-1339. Jack’s got your back.