In the state of Minnesota, incidents that result in the arrest and detainment of a person, whether minor or serious, are going to result in a criminal case. If you have a criminal charge filed against you in Minnesota, you are going to need to make a decision as to whether you will plead guilty, not guilty, or no contest. It is important to understand what your options are and what each of these choices mean if you are trying to avoid criminal conviction.
Understanding Your Options
- A not guilty plea means you intend to maintain your innocence. Throughout the trial, your case will consist of providing evidence to prove you didn't do what you are accused of.
- A guilty plea is usually entered when you have admitted to committing the offense and wish to speed up the process in hopes the court will be merciful and lighten your sentence.
If you enter a not guilty pleas, the prosecuting attorney will try any tactic he or she can in most cases in order to get a conviction. Fortunately for you, there are options when you’re in a Minnesota court room.
Maintain Your Innocence
In order to be found innocent of any crime, it helps an individual greatly to not have any sort of criminal record whatsoever. When you deal with a prosecutor, you will have a much harder time proving innocence if you have a prior criminal record. On the flipside, having a clean record makes it much easier for you to show a court or a jury that you tend to be a more honest citizen.
Have an Alibi
You may also be able to avoid a criminal conviction if you are able to prove that you have an alibi placing you somewhere else at the time and location of the incident which resulted in your arrest.
Get Help
Guilty or innocent, the fact of the matter is you need to be represented by a professional attorney who specializes in criminal defense. An attorney that knows their way around a Minnesota courtroom can often prove that any charges against you should be dismissed. Even in cases of your guilt, a lawyer can fight to show cause that your sentence should be substantially less than the full penalty allowed for the charge filed against you.
