How a Chicago Criminal Lawyer Can Benefit You

Facing criminal charges, whether they are for a felony offense or a misdemeanor, can be a frightening experience. The great news is that you do not have to face those charges alone nor give up hope that you will have to endure a stiff punishment if convicted for those charges. If you are facing charges in the Chicago area, you need to hire a Chicago criminal lawyer immediately. There are many benefits to hiring a criminal attorney in Chicago.

One of those benefits of being represented by a Chicago criminal lawyer is the ability to negotiate or reach a plea bargain. This means that your attorney can sit down and cut a deal for a lesser sentence with the prosecution if you plead a certain way (such as pleading guilty to a crime you committed). A good criminal lawyer will create a defense that will call into question the authenticity of the evidence or testimony against you in an attempt to cast reasonable doubt about whether or not you are guilty of committing the crime. Your defense attorney will ask tough questions as a means to ensure that all of your rights are protected and that you receive a fair trial as guaranteed by the Constitution.

The Penalty for Residential Burglary in Illinois

Committing residential burglary in Illinois is a serious offense that can carry a heavy sentence with it as a penalty. The crime itself can be described as an individual who enters into the living space of another person without permission to willingly steal or commit a felony crime. Being charged with residential burglary in Illinois is a Class 1 felony offense. Class 1 felony offenses in Illinois come with a prison sentence that ranges from 4 years in prison up to 15 years in prison. Your exact sentence will be determined by the circumstances surrounding the incident itself. 

If you have been charged with residential burglary, you will need a criminal defense lawyer to represent you during trial. A good criminal defense lawyer will seek to scrutinize the evidence and testimony of witnesses used by the prosecution to help cast reasonable doubt on your guilt for committing this crime. If there is enough evidence to prove that you did in fact commit a crime, the attorney will build a case with the intent to have the charge lessened to Criminal Trespass to Residence. This charge is only a Class A misdemeanor and may only require court supervision rather than serving jail time.