Denton Criminal Lawyer

Understanding Sentencing

Being arrested and charged with a crime is understandably a deeply unnerving occurrence. Regardless of whether you had any actual involvement in the criminal act, or whether the claims upon which your prosecution will be conducted are based in fact, you face an uphill battle. Although our legal system mandates the assumption of innocence until guilt is proven, your colleagues, friends, and even family members are rarely so forgiving. Should you be convicted of a crime, your case will enter the sentencing phase. During the sentencing phase, the judge presiding over the matter will assess the facts of the case and the lengths of incarceration prescribed by statute.

If you are facing a criminal prosecution, it is important that you have a skilled and experienced legal representative defending you. Among other potential benefits, a criminal defense lawyer may be able to help you to avoid an excessively harsh sentence. Contact the Denton criminal defense lawyers of Alexander & Associates at 972-420-6560 for more information.

Factors that Warrant Consideration

In most instances, sentencing is not simply a matter of a judge cross-referencing your criminal charge with a table that directs a specific sentence. Typically there is a variable period of incarceration and there may be some other punitive measures available. These are at least theoretically linked to the perceived severity of the charge, so the penalty for stealing a car is significantly less than that for committing murder. Some of the other factors that a judge may take into account in the sentencing process:

• Whether this is a first-offense or you are a habitual offender
• Perceived remorse
• Statements made by the victim or victim’s family
• External political pressures and media focus

Contact Us

Your freedom is too important to take any chances. Contact the Denton criminal lawyers of Alexander & Associates at 972-420-6560 for a free initial consultation.