Being accused of a crime is a serious situation. Depending on the specific crime, you could end up facing huge penalties or jail time. Whether you are innocent or not, hiring a criminal lawyer in Santa Maria, California will be necessary for getting a better outcome of your case. If you are unsure if hiring an attorney is the right choice for you, below are some benefits to consider. WHAT IS A CRIMINAL LAWYER? Criminal defense lawyers help defend entities, organizations and individuals that have been charged with crimes. The scope of their practice can include trials, DUIs, assaults, homicides, and other serious crimes. When they take on a client, they will investigate the case, interview any witnesses, research laws regarding the crime and build a strong case strategy.

As an American citizen, you have certain rights that you may assume you’ll never lose. Sadly, that may not be true. After a felony conviction, you will lose incredibly important rights. This kind of loss can leave your life in shambles. Losing Your Rights As with all other states, convicted felons lose certain rights in California. This is true even after they have served their sentence and been released from prison. Considering that the purpose of prison is partially to reform criminals and aid them in becoming productive members of society, the fact that felons lose any rights following their release is deplorable. There is good news, however. Advocacy groups are fighting to give felons their rights back. In fact, in California, felons now have the right to vote, even while in prison. Considering that felony sentences could last several years, the previous status quo meant that many felons were barred from voting in several elections, both on the state and federal level. The work is not finished, however, since felons still lose several other rights upon being convicted.