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How Long Do Criminal Trials Last?
Some criminal cases last longer than others, and preparing for a criminal trial means knowing for how long you’ll be involved in it. Although there are many other basic things you can do to get ready for a trial, knowing about the length of your case is no less important.Â
The best way to find out more about how long your trial will last is to consult the best criminal defense attorney in San Diego. They will know all about the various stages that make up a criminal trial and how long each of the stages last. This will help you mentally prepare for the fight to come.
How long does a criminal case last?
The length of a criminal trial depends on so many different factors that it is almost impossible to determine how long a trial will last. An experienced criminal defense lawyer could make an educated estimate with sufficient information, but that still doesn’t have to be correct.
However, with so many aspects that can affect the length of a criminal trial, it does become quite difficult to provide even a rough estimate. Here are the most important factors that influence how long a criminal case might last:
- Type of crime – The single biggest variable that affects the length of a criminal case is what type of a crime it is. Misdemeanors take less time to resolve, while felonies can take a lot longer.
- Severity of the crime – Not all crimes that fall into the same category are equally serious. The more serious the crime committed, the longer it will take to complete a criminal trial.
- Speed of the system – Another big factor that contributes to the duration of a criminal case is how quickly it reaches the court of law. It can take up to four or five months for a case to reach the courtroom.
- The trial itself – Sometimes, there is little evidence to present and few witnesses to call forth. However, depending on the case, the number of witnesses and the volume of evidence increases, increasing the duration of the case.
- Appeal – If the defendant is not satisfied with the verdict reached by the judge and the jury, they can appeal to the sentence. This will extend the length of the trial, as it is the beginning of a whole new process.
Do most criminal cases go to trial?
The vast majority of all the criminal cases never reach the courtroom. In fact, only about 10% of all the criminal cases actually go to trial. The rest of the cases either settle out of court, or the defendants plead guilty to the charges.
Most cases are resolved during the pre-trial conference when the prosecutor, the defense attorney and the judge sit down and discuss the possibility of a plea bargain. It is here that a favorable deal can usually be made both for the defense and the prosecution.
And this is why you should always try to hire adequate legal representation. It doesn’t matter if your case reaches the courtroom or not, you still need to have an experienced legal professional at your side speaking on your behalf to secure the best possible deal.
Who is the best criminal defense attorney in the San Diego area to represent me?
If you’re looking for the finest legal representation in all of San Diego, then you should only think about hiring Vik Monder. Vik is an experienced criminal defense lawyer who has worked long and hard to assemble a team of legal experts to help you win your case.
Monder Criminal Lawyer Group is here to make this difficult time easier for you. Don’t go to Mission Trail Regional Park thinking something will change once you take a break. It won’t, not until you start doing something. And the first thing you should do is contact Monder Criminal Lawyer Group. Reach out to us today!
