Are you in trouble with the law in Santa Barbara for a violent crime? Getting charged with a violent crime could mean jail or prison time, big fines, and legal problems that follow you for years. At Simmrin Law Group, we’re here to help defend you against violent crime charges.
Our Santa Barbara violent crimes lawyers helped thousands of people charged with violent crimes with their cases. We work hard to get charges dropped or reduced for our clients, and we’re ready to fight for you in court.
Contact a criminal defense lawyer in Santa Barbara if you’ve been arrested for a violent crime. You need a lawyer as soon as possible. The police and courts do not act kindly toward those suspected of violent crimes, but we’re not afraid to stand up for you in court.
What to Do After a Violent Crime Arrest
The first hours after an arrest are very important. The biggest mistake people make is talking to the police without a lawyer. Even if you’re innocent, anything you say can be used against you in court.
Tell the police you want to talk to a lawyer and then stay quiet. Don’t try to explain what happened or argue about your arrest. Don’t talk about your case on the phone from jail because these calls are recorded.
If your family member was arrested, tell them not to discuss the case with anyone. Help them contact our office right away. A violent crimes lawyer in Santa Barbara can talk to the police for them and start working to protect their rights immediately.
For a free legal consultation with a violent crimes lawyer serving Santa Barbara, call (310) 896-2723
Violent Crime Charges in California
In California, violent crimes are any crimes where someone uses force or threatens to use force against another person. These crimes usually have bigger punishments than other types of crimes, especially if someone uses a weapon.
For the police to charge you with a violent crime, they need to prove certain things depending on the charge. For example, in an assault case, they need to show you meant to hurt someone and could have done it. For battery, they need to prove you actually hit or hurt someone.
Some violent crimes are misdemeanors or felonies. Which one you get charged with depends on whether anyone was hurt badly and whether you’ve been in trouble before. Some examples of violent crime charges include:
- Assault and Battery
- Domestic Violence
- Armed Robbery
- Malicious Arson
- Assault with a Deadly Weapon
- Murder and Attempted Murder
- Manslaughter
- Kidnapping
- Criminal Threats
- Carjacking
- Gang-Related Violence
Santa Barbara Violent Crimes Lawyer Near Me (310) 896-2723
Bail and Release for Violent Crime Charges
It is important to get out of jail while your case moves forward so you can prepare for trial. The judge sets bail based on the type of violent crime you’re charged with and other factors, such as your criminal record and ties to the community.
Violent crimes often involve high bail amounts, sometimes hundreds of thousands of dollars. We can help by asking the judge to lower your bail at a bail hearing. We will show the judge why you are not a danger to others and why you will come back to court.
If you can’t afford bail, we can discuss other options. These might include getting released on your own recognizance (which means no bail payment) or working with a bail bonds company. We help many clients get released so they can help us build their defense from outside jail.
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What Happens If You’re Found Guilty of a Violent Crime
Getting found guilty of a violent crime can mess up your life in many ways. It can make it hard to get a job, find a place to live, or keep your rights. You’ll also face a jail or prison sentence, possible fines, and other punishments.
California also has something called the Three Strikes Law. Many violent crimes put a strike on your criminal record. If you get three, you will go to prison for a very long time, and possibly for life.
You might also lose other rights if you’re found guilty of a violent crime, like voting or owning a gun. If you have kids, it could affect who gets to take care of them. If you’re not a U.S. citizen, a conviction could affect whether you can stay in the country.
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How We Fight For You
In short, you need to fight back with the help of a Santa Barbara violent crimes attorney. We start by investigating your case ourselves. We gather all the evidence we can, talk to witnesses, and check whether the police did everything right when they arrested you.
The defense will depend on the crime and the circumstances. Based on our findings, we plan your court defense. We use what we’ve learned from fighting hundreds of cases in court to determine what works best.
Common Defenses Against Violent Crime Charges
Many people think there’s no way to fight back against violent crime charges. This isn’t true. There are several ways to defend against these charges, and we know how to use them all.
Self-defense is one of the most common defenses. If someone was trying to hurt you or someone else, you have the right to protect yourself. We can help prove you acted to keep yourself or others safe.
Sometimes, people get charged because they were mistaken for someone else. Other times, the police might charge you even though you didn’t mean to hurt anyone. We can also show evidence that you weren’t there when the crime happened or that someone is lying about what occurred.
Contact Our Santa Barbara Violent Crimes Defense Team
Don’t try to handle violent crime charges by yourself in Santa Barbara. There’s too much at risk to face these charges alone. Contact Simmrin Law Group today to talk about your case. We’ll look at what happened, tell you your chances, and start working on your defense immediately.
Let us help protect your future and your freedom. The sooner you call us, the more time our Santa Barbara violent crimes attorneys have to build a strong defense for your case.
Call or text (310) 896-2723 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form