Criminal defense options stand between accused individuals and the potential loss of their freedom and future. As a result, it is certainly important for accused individuals to understand their criminal defense rights and options when they are facing the threat of criminal charges.
Part of criminal law includes rights for accused individuals, criminal defense rights and procedures and protections that are put in place to ensure the rights of accused individuals are not violated. One type of criminal defense protection accused individuals enjoy, and are able to exercise when facing criminal charges, includes affirmative defenses. Affirmative defenses refer to defenses that offer an explanation for the actions the accused individual is alleged to have taken.
Affirmative defenses to criminal charges can include self-defense, defense of others, insanity, duress, entrapment and involuntary intoxication. Other defenses to criminal charges can be based on any procedures authorities failed to follow which may be related to an arrest or a search or may be based on challenging the facts and evidence as alleged by authorities. This may include examining witness statements and statements made by police as well. It may be possible to have the charges reduced or dismissed but what is possible depends on the circumstances.
Because so much is on the line, it is important for accused individuals to protect their freedom and future by knowing how to develop a strong criminal defense strategy. How to develop the strongest criminal defense strategy possible is based on the situation and circumstances of the accused individual so having a thorough knowledge of the options available, and how they relate to the situation, is beneficial for the accused individual to be aware of.