Believe it or not, many people who are convicted of a crime and end up in prison were falsely accused. Although the American criminal justice system works in most cases, not all juries get things right, and the consequences can be tragic. The best way to avoid such an unjust result and ensure the proper outcome when faced with criminal accusations is to immediately seek counsel from the best criminal defense attorneys available. A skilled and knowledgeable San Diego criminal defense lawyer knows their way around the criminal justice system and can navigate through the complex procedures to ensure the fairest possible conclusion. 
False-accusation Cases Involve the Same Procedures as All Criminal Cases
Being falsely accused of a crime often does not alter the way the case is handled. A defendant should never believe that because he or she is innocent and has nothing to hide, there is no need for legal representation. In fact, there is perhaps an even greater need for legal advocacy in the case of an individual who did not do what he or she is charged with doing. On the other hand, some falsely accused defendants will still negotiate a plea agreement with the prosecutor in order to avoid a trial and even the possibility of conviction and jail time. In certain cases, pleading guilty to a lesser offense may be the best option, even for innocent defendants, although this choice is always left to the accused himself or herself, and some defendants justifiably refuse to admit to doing anything they did not do. Experienced criminal defense attorneys are in the best position to explain the criminal justice system to their clients and to advise them on the best tactics in a particular case.
Wrongfully Accused Defendants May Have Recourse in the Civil Courts
If someone is falsely accused of a crime, pleads not guilty, and the charges are dismissed, he or she may be able to file suit against the person who brought the charges. In a malicious prosecution case, the wrongfully accused plaintiff can recover his or her actual injuries, which include attorneys’ fees to defend the underlying case in criminal court, the cost of any bail bond, lost wages, damages for embarrassment and humiliation, and damages for harm to his or her reputation. In some cases, punitive damages may also be awarded, above and beyond the actual damages suffered, in order to punish the person who raised the wrongful accusations and to discourage others from engaging in similar conduct.
A person falsely accused of committing a crime faces many of the same challenges as a guilty criminal defendant and has the same, if not an even greater, need for competent legal counsel. When your life is on the line, experience counts.
If falsely accused in San Diego County, call San Diego’s top Criminal Defense lawyer, William Daley at (619) 238-1905 for a free consultation. William Daley is an experienced criminal defense and San Diego DUI lawyer with over thirty years of experience defending his clients and getting their charges reduced or dismissed. Call THE LAW OFFICE OF WILLIAM DALEY at (619) 238-1905 to set up a free 30 minute consultation today!
