subject: When Criminal Lawyers Fight For Lighter Penalties [print this page] Contrary to what some people may think, criminal lawyers do more than try to help their clients avoid jail time. Even though this may be one of their main objectives, in some cases, this isn't even something they focus on. That's because there are some cases where jail time is inevitable due to the nature of the crime. However, there are instances where they can help fight for more lenient penalties. Now, there are some cases where most everyone agrees that leniency should not be an option. This includes cases that may involve serial killers or even rapists. On the other hand, there are certain situations where a cry for leniency may be more appropriate.
For instance, imagine if there was a woman who constantly dealt with physical abuse at the hands of her boyfriend. She dealt with this issue for many years. Unfortunately, her son witnessed much of the abuse. When he finally became an adult, he decided that he was tired of watching his mother get abused and disrespected. So, he decided to take matters into his own hands.
So, one day, he decided to confront his mother's abuser and have a man-to-man chat about the abuse. As they began to converse, the conversation got heated and the son snapped and ended up fatally stabbing his mother's lover. Now, without looking at the circumstances surrounding the case, many people would say that the son should be given a life sentence or even the death penalty for taking someone else's life. This is where criminal lawyers come in.
The family of the victim would understandably argue that the killer be penalized to the full extent of the law. In their eyes, they have lost someone they love at the hands of a coldblooded killer. Some of them may not even believe that the mother was even abused in the first place. The good news is that the defendant has an opportunity to fight the charges and bad perceptions of society by getting representation from an attorney.
As previously mentioned, criminal lawyers may not be able to get a not guilty judgment in the case, but they can definitely help to lessen the penalties, by arguing that the defendant acted in passion and the crime was not premeditated. Some people may not realize it, but this argument can make a very big difference in the outcome of a case.
So, it's clear to see that criminal lawyers are responsible for much more than trying to persuade the court to let their clients walk away free. In some instances, that may not even be an option. However, there are times when their main goal is to attain a lighter sentence or penalty for their clients.
