Role of a Maryland Joyriding Lawyer

Many individuals may have the misconception that joyriding is a minor offense. However, a person who is convicted of joyriding could face significant legal consequences and fines that may negatively influence their future. Universities and employers typically extend preference to candidates without criminal records or a history of legal infractions. Someone who has been charged with such an offense should consider learning about the role of a Maryland joyriding lawyer. A dedicated joyriding attorney could work to fight the allegation and preserve a person’s reputation.

Understanding an Attorney’s Role in a Joyriding Case

The role of a joyriding lawyer in the criminal justice process is to represent the accused’s best interests. Depending on when they are retained, an attorney could advocate for a person’s release pending a trial. The joyriding lawyer could argue that the defendant should either be released on their own recognizance, typically with the promise to return on their court date, or with the most lenient conditions that the court may allow. Such conditions may be as simple as a pretrial supervision, or it could be a money bond.

The lawyer could further argue that the accused has strong ties to the community, whether it is employment, family, or being a long-time resident. Depending on the specifics of the allegations, there may be mitigating factors such as the person was alleged to have been a relatively minor participant or codefendant, the act was nonviolent, or the person has no criminal record. Those are all factors that the attorney could potentially argue to suggest that there should be lenient release conditions or a very low money bond.

Once the person is either released or a bond is set, the lawyer could proceed to prepare for trial. This may involve beginning to review evidence in the discovery provided by the state, speak with the accused, conduct an independent investigation, and interview potential witnesses. In some cases, a lawyer may need to request a subpoena for certain documents to enhance their knowledge of the case. Additionally, a lawyer may examine the strengths and weaknesses of the state’s case and work to determine if the defendant may benefit from proceeding to trial or accepting a plea deal.  There may be strong grounds to argue for a dismissal. It depends on the facts of the case, but the joyriding lawyer’s job typically is to serve the defendant’s best interests at each phase of the legal process. While the client gets to decide major decisions, such as whether to take a plea or go to trial, once those decisions are made, the strategy is often up to the attorney as to how to most effectively achieve the person’s goals.

Benefits of Retaining an Attorney Who Understands Their Role in a Maryland Joyriding Case

A person facing joyriding charges might want to hire an aggressive Maryland joyriding lawyer for many reasons. Joyriding is considered a criminal charge and a conviction for such an offense could negatively impact a person’s future. In many cases of joyriding, a person accused of the offense is young. As a result, they may not completely think about how the consequences of their actions could influence their future. If found guilty and convicted, a person could be subject to a jail sentence of at least six months and up to four years. In addition, they could face fines, periods of probation, and all the collateral consequences of having a criminal conviction on their record. This could affect employment, housing, professional licensing, and other aspects of their life well into the future. Since the consequences could be extensive, a person should so be as prepared as possible to refute the charge. Hiring a joyriding attorney who is well-versed in such cases could mitigate the risks associated with proceeding to trial without legal counsel.

Researching the role of a Maryland joyriding lawyer and retaining such competent counsel may positively impact your case. Call and schedule an appointment for a legal consultation to start discussing your potential legal options and the defenses that may be available to you.