Dan Chambers, Southern California’s top criminal defense lawyer, has created a 21-part video series to help both his clients and potential clients understands more about the ins-and-outs of the California criminal court system. This blog post is about the 7th video in the series, which talks about sentencing procedures in misdemeanor cases. The previous blog post and video explained the three potential outcomes that usually happen after a jury trial in misdemeanor cases. This second part of the post-trial process is about the actual sentencing that may occur following a jury trial.
After a conviction, before a sentence
If you are convicted of one or more charges, sentencing will then occur. The judge will decide what the sentence will be for your case in accord with California state law. While the law governs the sentencing parameters, your specific sentence will be unknown until the judge announces it because he or she is allowed to decrease or increase the sentence because of various factors.
It’s important to be aware of the charge you have been convicted of, as well as themaximum and minimum possible penalties for that specific charge. Your attorney will go over that information with you so that you’re aware of the potential results of your jury trial if a conviction is issued by the court.
Presenting yourself well before sentencing
Before sentencing, make sure you work very closely with your attorney during the time period after a conviction is announced and the judge delivers your sentence. It’s essential that you do this because you will need to make sure you and your life are presented in the best possible light before the judge sentences you.
How do you put yourself in the best possible light?
Your attorney will advise you on the best ways to present yourself. A good start will be to obtain letters of reference, letters from your employers, and any other documents that you can show the court to explain your background, what kind of person you are, and why you need leniency. When these documents have been collected, you’ll work with your attorney to effectively package that material together and present it to the court at your sentencing hearing.
Doing this could mean the difference between one year in prison and five years, or a two thousand dollar fine instead of a ten thousand dollar one, so it’s definitely worth it to put as much effort as possible into presenting yourself in the best possible light. If your attorney is Dan Chambers, he will diligently work to ensure you receive a lenient sentence and don’t have to suffer the maximum penalties.
Want to learn more?
Check out the other videos in this series, and stay tuned to this blog for written explanations of each video. The next video and blog include Attorney Chambers’ final thoughts about sentencing in misdemeanor cases.
What prospective clients should do now
Here at the Chambers Law Firm, we are all dedicated to making sure our clients and potential clients are well-informed about their cases and California criminal procedures. If you’ve recently been charged with a felony or misdemeanor crime, don’t hesitate to contact the Chambers Law Firm by calling 714-760-4088, emailing dchambers@clfca.com, or using the chat box below. You’re entitled to a free case evaluation with Attorney Chambers, and it’s definitely in your best interests to schedule it ASAP following your arrest.
