What are the possible outcomes of a criminal case in NYC?
Getting arrested is a very scary process - and what happens after is even scarier. You’re likely overwhelmed, you don’t know what to do. No one knows what will happen next. At major turning points like this, you need a defense firm who gets it. We will walk you through the process, and discuss potential outcomes. The first thing that will happen is the prosecutor will decide whether to pursue charges, or not. This is important. If they decide to press charges, you’ll be arraigned before a judge who’ll set bail, and determine the next court date. From there, the game of chess begins. We will start building your defense. We’ll look at all the possible outcomes, and we’ll try to get you the best outcome.
Dismissal is our goal. We will work to poke enough holes in the prosecutor’s case to get the criminal charges dismissed. Getting charges dismissed means the case against you is dropped - no criminal record, no penalties. A plea bargain can be a great move too. It’s essentially negotiating a deal with reduced charges or sentences, and many cases end up with one. If we decide to take your case to trial, our team will make the strongest defense strategy to prove your innocence. Sometimes you have to fight in court in order to win your freedom.
If you are convicted of a crime - whether it’s federal, state, felony, or misdemeanor - the penalties of a conviction include, but are not limited to: jail or prison time. Felony convictions usually come with prison sentences ranging from one year to life; misdemeanors can result in jail time up to one year. Financial fines can range from hundreds of dollars to millions depending on the offense - such as a white collar federal crime. You could be sentenced to probation instead of jail time, or to unpaid community service as part of the sentence. You might also have to pay restitution to victims to compensate for losses or damages you caused.
There’s no magic formula when it comes to what influences a case. A number of factors can help tilt the scale in your favor. First-time offenders in the criminal justice system are typically given leniency; if you’re a repeat offender the court is less likely to be lenient. Holes in the prosecutor’s case - by going after their evidence - make it easier to get charges reduced or dismissed. Factors that mitigate guilt matter too: self-defense, lack of criminal intent, or entrapment can lessen the charges against you. And having aggressive, experienced counsel matters. At the end of the day, the outcome of your case depends entirely on how we are presenting the facts in the most positive light possible.
There are many consequences of a federal or misdemeanor conviction beyond the direct penalties. Employment could be a problem - it can be difficult to find a job in the future due to background checks. Housing can be an issue too; you could face eviction, be ineligible for public housing, or have trouble renting. Immigration could be an issue for non-citizens, who can face deportation concerns, be denied citizenship, or worse. You could also lose your right to vote, own firearms, and more.
