A lot of potential clients contact me as first offenders and want to know if they will be given preferential treatment as a first time offender in Michigan. Yes, to an extent it will help you, because you may still receive the benefit of the doubt if you have an explanation or can add context to the crime you're charged.
As someone with a clean record you may also be eligible for certain first offender programs that might give you a chance to keep a criminal record, but it is not as easy as you might think. When you break the law, you don't simply get away with it- you need to hire an experienced Michigan criminal defense attorney to review your case and present you with all of your options. One of those options might be a negotiated deal with the prosecutor or judge for a favorable outcome. When I say favorable it doesn't mean your case is being dismissed, but I might be able to set you down the right path where you could leave the incident without long-term damage to your record, your ability to get a job, go to school and go forward in life without too many consequences.
Prosecutors and judges are not always open to giving you a break - you need an attorney who is experienced in practicing criminal law in Michigan to use the facts of your case and your background to your advantage. Lots of clients want to run to the courthouse and proclaim their guilt with the idea that they will be rewarded for their honesty. Things don't quite work that way - you should not go plea guilty without a negotiated result/outcome to your proclamation of guilt; sometimes you might believe yourself to be guilty, but you're actually not, and have a number of great defenses.
So take a step back from what just happened, give me a call at 248-348-0496 during business hours or call me on my emergency legal hotline during the evening or weekend at 248-924-9458. You can also shoot me an email at [email protected]. I would be happy to talk about your case and let you know if I can help you moving forward. I don't just accept every case tha
