It is a public misconception that when someone is charged with a crime, it is likely because he or she is guilty. This sort of thinking trusts our government a bit too much. If the government was perfect, we would not have civil rights laws, and the heated debates the Founders had over the Bill of Rights would be noted as the biggest waste of time in the history of self-governance.

But the point is that the government is not perfect. Not by a long shot. That is why we have constitutional protections and in the wake of the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s, federal and state law that gives private individuals the right to sue for breaches of those constitutional rights.

Having dealt with hundreds of criminal prosecutions, and multiple civil rights claims, I know that the government is not always well-behaved. The state consists of people, like the rest of us, who are all equally flawed.

The initial stages of a criminal prosecution requires that the government only show to a 51% certainty that you did what they say you did. This does not take much, since it is usually strategically unwise for a defendant to testify at those stages of the proceedings. However, at the end, the standard is that of “beyond a reasonable doubt”, which can bring a state or federal prosecution to its heels, and works to the advantage of the defendant.

So, being charged is not the end of the process, no matter the public perception. The real work is in the long term defense, which we completely understand. If you are charged with any crime, now is the time to begin working on your defense. Do not hesitate to contact us – we will be happy to talk with you.