Assault is a Class C misdemeanor in Illinois, and if you’re convicted, the penalty is up to 30 days in jail and a fine of up to $1,500. (The court may sentence you to perform between 30 and 120 hours of community service instead of jailing you or fining you, however.) Because a conviction stays on your record for life, it may make sense for you to talk to a Chicago assault lawyer if you’re accused of this type of crime.
What Your Assault Lawyer Will Do
First things first: Your assault lawyer will ask you questions about the alleged incident and try to determine what happened. He’ll listen to your side of the story and figure out what type of evidence the prosecution has against you.
It’s the prosecutor’s job to prove that you committed assault; it’s not your job to prove that you didn’t. Your lawyer will work to show the prosecution’s evidence isn’t proof that you committed a crime… but in order to do that, you need to answer your attorney’s questions about the alleged incident (including the events that led up to it) honestly. Your lawyer can’t defend what he doesn’t know.
Once your attorney has a clear picture of what happened – and why you’re being accused of a crime – he’ll start developing a strategy that gets you the best possible outcome.
Your lawyer will go to court with you and speak on your behalf in front of the judge. He’ll make sure the judge hears your side of the story, rather than just the prosecutor’s side.
When Should You Call an Assault Lawyer?
Ideally, you’ll be able to talk to an assault lawyer long before you even appear in court. You have the right to have an attorney present when you’re being questioned, and you have the right to legal representation in court.
The sooner you talk to an attorney, the more time he’ll have to develop your defense strategy.
Do You Need to Talk to an Assault Lawyer in Chicago?
We may be able to help you if you’ve been accused of assault.
Call us now at 847-920-4540 for a free assault case review.
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