If you have been charged with criminal charges in Los Angeles, you have not yet been convicted. Being charged simply means that officers believe you could be guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, but until you enter a plea of guilty, or are found guilty by a jury, you are innocent.
Fortunately, with proper negotiations and preparation, there are many opportunities to avoid the charges altogether. But how do you know what to argue, and when to do it? This is why an experienced and knowledgeable Los Angeles Criminal Defense Attorney, like those at Hoffman and Associates are extremely beneficial when it comes to fighting the charges against you.
One way an experienced legal professional can fight for you is through negotiations. The key is that negotiations are most beneficial when they take place prior to a case having been filed. When you are arrested, an officer prepares a report of the incident. The officer then sends his or her report to the prosecutor’s office. The prosecutor then reviews the facts and makes a determination whether there is enough evidence to file formal charges. Once formal charges are filed, you are given a date to appear in Court. That date is your arraignment.