Many defendants enter the Massachusetts criminal justice system without much legal knowledge about the violent crimes surrounding their arrests. As such, they are vulnerable to unfair treatment in the court as well as civil rights violations. Having a defense attorney represent and protect your interests during all legal proceedings can help you avoid these pitfalls.
Developing an understanding of the violent crimes for which the state accuses you is also beneficial. For example, initial charges of assault or assault and battery could mean up to 2.5 years behind bars along with a hefty fine. However, if an investigation warrants it, a simple assault arrest may evolve into more serious violent crime allegations and charges. As you may expect, worsened charges mean worsened consequences as well.
Courts in the state take a particularly harsh stance against violent crimes that result in serious bodily harm to an alleged victim. Examples of such harm include:
- Loss or impairment of the ability to function
- Permanent disfigurement
- Loss of a limb or an organ
- Significant risk of death
If the state alleges that you have assaulted someone who has filed a restraining order against you, then you can expect more serious consequences. These include:
- Up to five years of imprisonment; or
- A fine of up to $5,000; or
- Prison time as well as a fine
Knowing everything you can about your charges ensures that you always remain well-informed about your legal situation. When you understand what is happening with your case, you have the best chances of mounting an effective defense against allegations that you have committed violent crimes.
