A story always has two sides. Criminal defense is important because people are not actually criminals until the prosecutor can prove the action itself was a crime. But the prosecutor may only see one side of a story.
The accused may have been acting out of self-defense
If someone tries to hurt you or your family, would you just stand there and watch? What if the person has a knife or a gun and threatens to kill your child? Acting out of self-defense is not a crime in Florida. You have legal right to physically defend yourself and your family.
The accused should know their rights
People are often unaware that police officers cannot do what they want, whenever they want. The accused has a right against unreasonable search and seizure. Let the police get a warrant if they are suspicious of anything. Officers also cannot make an arrest without probable cause. Anything an officer has done to violate your rights can undermine or invalidate the case against you.
The accused receives proper prosecution
Criminal defense does not only prove a person’s guilt. Through prosecution, it is meant to establish what exactly the accused was guilty of, consequently procuring sensible and proportionate punishment.
The accused is innocent until proven guilty
If an officer catches you in the wrong place at the wrong time, that does not automatically make you a criminal. Everyone, even the accused, is innocent until there is enough unsurmountable material evidence to justify a conviction.
Someone accused of a crime has a right to defend themselves against unfair charges. The prosecutor is only there to tell one side of the story, the one where you are the villain. But a criminal defense attorney is here to tell your side.