At the Simmrin Law Group, we understand California’s high stakes in fighting criminal charges. A conviction for a criminal act can lead to fines, incarceration, and lifelong damage to your reputation. Fortunately, you can secure professional help immediately by contacting a Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer from our firm to discuss all aspects of your case.
We work with various clients and handle criminal charges, putting our experience and legal know-how into action. Find out more during a free discussion of your legal options.
Select a Law Firm that Understands Your High Stakes Case
The results of a criminal conviction can impact the rest of your life in Los Angeles. California uses a “three-strike” sentencing procedure that can make your charges more severe if you have past convictions.
Our team understands these charges. We handle infractions, misdemeanors, and felonies. In addition, each of our attorneys has a background in a specific area of law, giving us a highly knowledgeable team that can take on your case with a high degree of confidence that we will be successful for you.
We fight for our clients and communicate with you clearly and frequently about the state of your case. At Simmrin Law Group, we understand the impact a criminal charge has on your life. We will conduct a thorough investigation of your case, provide an honest assessment, and fight to protect your rights throughout the entire legal process.
For a free legal consultation with a criminal defense lawyer serving Los Angeles, call (310) 896-2723
How Much Does a Los Angeles Criminal Defense Attorney Cost?
Not every criminal defense lawyer in Los Angeles will charge the same price for their services as other attorneys. However, more established firms have more experience, can show a history of wins, and may charge more than an attorney just beginning to practice law.
Selecting a lawyer with the resources and knowledge to handle your claim can save you more than just money in the long run. Lawyers with a reputation for successfully resolving cases can help you avoid fines and years of incarceration. Trying to save money on the front end of your defense case can cost you more in fines, fees, and years of your life.
When you contact us for your free consultation, you can discuss the costs of hiring a criminal defense attorney in Los Angeles from Simmrin Law Group. We will be upfront with you about costs, the chances of the charges being dropped or reduced, and how we can build a defense to those charges on your behalf. Call us today to schedule a consultation with an experienced criminal defense attorney in Los Angeles, CA.
Los Angeles Criminal Defense Lawyer Near Me (310) 896-2723
Finding the Right Los Angeles Criminal Defense Attorney for Your Case
Hiring a Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer can make a big difference in the outcome of your legal case. A conviction can have significant ramifications for the rest of your life. To be sure you are connecting with the right lawyer for your needs, it is crucial to do some research.
Finding the right fit can make a difference in a defense case. When you contact a law firm about taking on your claim, make sure that you ask probing questions, such as:
- How long have they been handling criminal cases?
- Do they have experience with cases like yours?
- Do they have experience representing clients in court?
- What do they charge for their services?
- How many individuals work in their office?
- How many cases are they currently handling?
Select a law firm that can offer you personalized assistance throughout your claim. You want a lawyer with experience with cases like yours and a history of success. The criminal defense lawyers at the Simmrin Law Group will fight to protect your rights so you can focus on your personal life during the case.
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Why Choose Our Legal Team in Los Angeles
At the Simmrin Law Group, our team always puts you first when you reach out to us after an arrest in Los Angeles. We have a reputation for beating prosecutors because we understand their strategies and limitations.
Every one of the attorneys at our practice has the experience you want when handling legal charges. We focus on bringing in lawyers with various backgrounds and areas of focus, allowing us to handle many criminal charges confidently.
Our team has a history of wins, and we always take your side when building a defense against criminal charges. We provide transparent communication and always stand ready to answer your questions. We are confident we can offer you the best criminal defense lawyers in Los Angeles for your case.
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What Kinds of Charges Do Los Angeles Criminal Defense Lawyers Handle?
Our Los Angeles criminal defense attorneys can help you with various charges. Our team can handle infractions, misdemeanors, and felonies. In addition, we provide a defense if you face state or federal charges.
You can contact us if you face charges for a traffic violation, including driving under the influence (DUI). Our team takes on the following:
- Sex crimes
- Drug crimes
- Federal crimes
- White collar crimes
- Violent crimes
- Traffic violations
- Theft crimes
You can also contact us if you are interested in an expungement. Expungements remove criminal charges from your record, allowing you to move forward with your life in the event of a conviction. Even if you do not see your criminal charge listed, we can help you fight for freedom.
Call the Simmrin Law Group today to speak with an experienced Los Angeles criminal defense attorney about your case.
What Can You Expect from the Legal Process in Los Angeles?
The legal process begins when police officers arrest you. Law enforcement officers hold you at a police station until the prosecution files formal charges. The Sixth Amendment gives you the legal right to request a lawyer.
Our team provides a free consultation after your arrest. We answer your questions and provide you with guidance on the next steps to take.
During Your Bail Hearing
The court allows some people to stay out of jail or prison before their criminal trial if they pay bail. Generally, you receive a bail hearing within 72 hours of your arrest.
A Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer from Simmrin can represent you during the hearing to help secure a lower bail payment. In some cases, the court may deny bail, especially if an individual has a history of violating probation.
Allow us to handle your bail hearing after a criminal charge in Los Angeles. There is too much at stake when faced with a criminal charge in Los Angeles, California.
At Your Arraignment Hearing
You should also expect an arraignment hearing after a criminal arrest in Los Angeles. During this hearing, the judge informs you of the official charges you face. You also have a chance to enter your plea.
If you plead guilty or no contest, your case will move forward to the sentencing phase. Criminal defense lawyers generally advise clients to plead not guilty so that they can work on a defense.
After you enter your plea, the court sets up a preliminary (or probable cause) hearing. In some cases, defense lawyers can take steps during the arraignment hearing to have your bail lowered or removed completely.
Throughout Your Trial
Our criminal defense attorneys can stand up for you throughout your trial. They represent your needs and protect your rights, working to resolve your case out of court. Our team uses our experience and history of courtroom wins to assist all clients who reach out to us for help.
What Should You Expect from Your Preliminary Hearing?
You may receive a preliminary hearing after an arrest in Los Angeles. Generally, the court uses preliminary hearings for felony cases. During the hearing, judges:
- Go over evidence presented by attorneys
- Listen to witness testimony
- Decide if there is enough evidence for the case to go to trial
Reaching out to a Los Angeles criminal defense attorney quickly after a felony arrest is essential, as these hearings usually happen within ten days of your arrest. Your lawyer can cross-examine witnesses, develop arguments against the charges, and push back against the prosecution’s evidence.
Note that your defense lawyer can also petition the judge to reduce felony misdemeanor charges to a preliminary hearing. Taking this step can help reduce the severity of the charges you face.
Do Lawyers Help at Your Pretrial Conference?
You can expect to attend a pretrial conference if you face misdemeanor charges in Los Angeles. During this hearing, your lawyer may work to have your charges either dismissed or reduced. A criminal defense lawyer may also work with the prosecution for a plea bargain.
If the court dismisses your charges or you accept a plea bargain, your case could end at your pretrial conference. Talk to the criminal defense lawyers at the Simmrin Law Group today about your case.
How Do Los Angeles Criminal Defense Lawyers Handle Plea Bargains?
Many criminal charges never go to court in Los Angeles. Instead, lawyers resolve them through a plea bargain. In some cases, prosecutors offer plea bargains as a deal, allowing you to reduce the penalties you face by pleading guilty to a different charge.
However, some plea bargains work against your best interest. You should always hire a criminal defense lawyer in Los Angeles to review any deal before you agree, as some prosecutors offer unfavorable deals just to get easy convictions.
Your Criminal Defense Lawyer in Los Angeles Could Help You Enter a Pretrial Diversion Program
In addition to plea bargains, you may have the option of entering a pretrial diversion program. Here, the court is more focused on rehabilitating you than punishing you. For this reason, typically, only non-violent and first-time offenders will qualify for pretrial diversion programs.
You will need to meet specific requirements if you enter a pretrial diversion program. Similar to probation requirements, you may have required meetings with court officers, complete random drug or alcohol testing, and complete a specified number of community service hours. However, this is not all.
You may also be required to pay restitution and court costs, find a job, obtain safe housing, and attend mental health counseling, group therapy, or a rehabilitation program. Failure to follow the criteria of your pretrial diversion program gives the prosecutor the authority to move forward with the initial criminal charges against you.
We Investigate the Facts of Your Case
We can find holes in the evidence against you. Contact us for:
- Unparalleled attention during every step of your case
- Dedicated legal representation backed by decades of experience
- Focused and aggressive help with your defense
At the Simmrin Law Group, we use hard-won lessons from past cases to make your defense as solid as possible. Our criminal defense lawyers refuse to provide you with anything less than dedicated, personalized support.
The criminal justice system is a tough place. Everything can feel stacked against you, but at the Simmrin Law Group, we do not believe anyone should face that alone.
How Criminal Defense Attorneys Challenge the Evidence
We do not have to wait until trial to challenge key evidence used against you. If the judge rules in our favor, the evidence will be blocked before the trial begins.
We may file a motion to block evidence gathered illegally or without a warrant. Blocking evidence can weaken the case against you, putting us in a stronger position to negotiate.
We may be able to get no jail time, or we may even get the judge to dismiss the case. Many criminal cases never go to trial. We can discuss this possibility when you meet for your free consultation.
What Can You Expect from Your Trial in California?
As we mentioned, many criminal cases do not go to trial. However, a Los Angeles criminal defense attorney can stand up for you if your case goes before a judge and jury. During your trial, you can expect the following:
- Both sets of lawyers present evidence
- Your defense lawyer to question witnesses
- Both attorneys to make closing arguments about your case
The jury deliberates over your case after the prosecution and the defense rests. Once they return your verdict, you find out if they have found you guilty or not guilty. In cases that result in a guilty verdict, the court sets up a sentencing hearing to determine the penalties for the alleged crime.
What Are the Penalties for Criminal Convictions in Los Angeles?
Below are the penalties you could receive upon being convicted of a crime in California:
- Misdemeanor – Misdemeanors equate to fines and the possibility of jail time. Most misdemeanors have a maximum sentence of no more than one year in jail.
- Felony – Felonies usually carry larger fines and time in state prison. Prison sentences are often 16 months, two years, or three years, but they can be much longer depending on the offense (including life sentences).
- Sex crime penalties – Sex crimes may be felonies or misdemeanors but almost always carry sex offender status. This means you must register as a convicted sex offender.
- Federal crime penalties – Federal federal government prosecutes federal crimes under federal U.S. law. The penalties are often much more severe than the equivalent crime under state law and can result in several years in prison and hefty fines.
- Traffic offense penalties – Traffic offenses may carry only a ticket and a fine but may also count as criminal offenses, resulting in jail time. Additionally, you can lose your license if you rack up too many traffic offenses, even non-serious ones, while some serious traffic offenses can cost you your license immediately.
Can You Work with a Free Lawyer in Los Angeles?
Sometimes, you may work with a free lawyer known as a public defender. However, most public defenders have a hard time spending more than 15 minutes on a client’s case before meeting with that client. Often, they will only meet with you minutes before a court hearing.
Due to their extensive caseload, they simply cannot provide you with the level of defense a dedicated lawyer will provide.
Even public defenders will tell you that unless you have to, do not go with the free lawyer. Hire a private professional. An experienced criminal defense lawyer in Los Angeles can help you handle some of the most severe charges you could face.
What Should You Do if a Loved One Gets Arrested?
We can help you locate your loved one. For example, if the police arrest a teenage family member, they may be in a juvenile center.
Do not answer police questions about the alleged crime or try to explain what happened. You cannot talk your son, daughter, or loved one’s way out of the charges. Reach out to a criminal defense lawyer quickly to secure professional assistance.
How Can You Protect Your Rights After an Arrest in Los Angeles?
There are several steps you can take to protect yourself and your rights.
Avoid Speaking to the Police
Do not answer questions about your charges when asked by police officers or prosecutors. Instead, politely tell them you want to speak with your lawyer and then keep silent.
Silence is your constitutional right, as is the right to a lawyer present during police questioning. They can hold you and ask you questions but can’t require you to talk.
Avoid Fighting or Resisting
If you are required to take a chemical test, take it. If you are being moved or processed, be polite. Fighting the police does not improve your case and usually makes it worse.
Avoid Trying to Outsmart Police Officers
Do not try to outsmart law enforcement officials. Police receive training to trick you and have years of experience doing it.
So, do not lie, taunt, or try to outsmart the police. Instead, just use your right to remain silent and wait for a lawyer.
Immediately Get Professional Legal Help
Hire a Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer immediately. Many people make the mistake of waiting weeks into their case to get a lawyer. The sooner you have professional legal advice, the better your chances of a satisfactory outcome.
What if the Police Failed to Read You Your Rights?
The rules around warrants, searches, and your “Miranda rights” are complex. It is true, however, that you can win your case or get evidence thrown out if the police violate your rights.
Police need a valid reason to stop you, pull you over in your car, or detain you. They also need a more specific suspicion of a crime to arrest you.
When police arrest you, they do not have to read your rights. This may surprise most people, but police do need to tell you your rights before they start to interrogate you. If they do not, your statements may not be admissible in court.
On the other hand, anything you said before being arrested is permissible whether you had your rights read to you or not.
What Laws Govern Police Searches in Los Angeles?
If the police have not arrested you, police officers cannot search you without a warrant. However, if they notice things in plain view, they can perform a search if you invite or allow them to. Our professional legal team would advise you never to agree to a search voluntarily.
Once police arrest you, they can search your car (if they pulled you over) and your person. They no longer need a warrant to do so. This can be confusing, and many defendants have their rights violated without even realizing it.
Your lawyer will examine each step of the arrest process to see if the police violated your rights.
Should You Talk to the Police After an Arrest?
No, you should generally avoid speaking with police officers about your legal situation. Police use several tactics to try to get you to make a mistake:
- They pretend to be friendly or want to help you.
- They say they can offer you a way out.
- They pretend the offense is not as severe as it is.
- They say they already have hard evidence against you, and you only worsen it.
- They suggest confessing will get you a lighter sentence, even with no jail time.
- They say your friend already turned on you and said you did it.
The police are not trying to help you after an arrest. Officers work to secure convictions, and they use what you say against you. Reach out to a lawyer before talking about any parts of your case.
The Simmrin Law Group offers fast legal assistance from our experienced Los Angeles criminal defense lawyers. We provide you with a 100% free consultation. Fill out our online contact form or call us to get started.
Call or text (310) 896-2723 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form