Charged with a Crime in Prince William County? 5 Things to Know Before Your First Court Date

If you’ve been charged with a crime in Prince William County, there is a lot you need to know. Regardless of the charges you are facing, a conviction will lead to serious consequences—so it is critical that you are prepared to defend yourself by all means available. This starts with putting an experienced Prince William County criminal defense attorney on your side.

Once you hire a Prince William County criminal defense attorney to represent you, your attorney will be able to provide custom-tailored legal advice based on the specific facts of your case. Until then, you need to be very careful to protect yourself as you await the first court date in your case.  

What You Need to Know Before the First Court Date in Your Prince William County Criminal Case

What do you need to know in order to protect yourself as your first court date approaches? Here are five key facts for individuals who have been charged with a crime in Prince William County:

1. A Conviction is a Very Real Possibility Regardless of the Facts of Your Case

The first thing you need to know is that facing a conviction in court is a very real possibility. If you don’t defend yourself, the judge will be left with little choice other than to accept the prosecution’s version of the events. This will almost certainly lead to a conviction, and then the judge will sentence you in accordance with Virginia law.  

While the prosecution has the burden of proof (and must prove your guilt beyond a reasonable doubt), a conviction is a very real possibility regardless of the facts of your case. If prosecutors have the evidence they need to seek a conviction, it will be up to you (and your attorney) to fight for a just result.

2. You Should Not Assume that You Will Be Convicted in Court

While it is important to acknowledge that a conviction is a very real possibility, it is equally important not to assume that you will be convicted in court. You can—and should—defend yourself by all means available. Regardless of the facts of your case, you are entitled to defend yourself, and if prosecutors cannot meet their burden of proof, then a conviction is not warranted.

3. There Are Ways to Defend Against the Prosecution’s Case Regardless of the Facts Surrounding Your Arrest

When you are facing criminal charges in Prince William County, you have defenses available regardless of the facts surrounding your arrest. At the very least, you can rely on the prosecution’s burden of proof—and you can fight to avoid a conviction by arguing that the prosecution’s evidence is insufficient to prove your guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. But, from asserting affirmative defenses to asserting your constitutional rights, you may have a variety of other options for fighting the prosecution’s case in court as well.

Importantly, along with fighting the prosecution’s case in court, you also may have other options for avoiding (or at least mitigating) the consequences of your arrest.

For example, depending on the specific circumstances of your case, entering into a pretrial diversion program may be an option. Successfully completing a pretrial diversion program (if you are eligible to do so) will allow you to avoid a conviction even if you would otherwise likely face a conviction at trial.

Plea bargaining is an option in many criminal cases in Prince William County as well. If a conviction appears likely and entering into a pretrial diversion program is not an option, you may choose to have your Prince William County criminal defense attorney target a plea bargain on your behalf. While accepting a plea bargain will still result in a conviction, this could significantly reduce the penalties and other consequences resulting from your arrest.

4. If You Miss Your First Court Date, You Can Be Charged with Failure to Appear  

When you have a court date in a criminal case in Prince William County, you are required to show up. If you don’t show up for your court date, you can be charged with failure to appear. In felony cases, failure to appear is a Class 6 felony. In misdemeanor cases, failure to appear is a Class 1 misdemeanor.

While there are exceptions to the requirement to appear in court, you need to be certain that an exception applies before you decide not to show for a court date. You also need to be certain that choosing not to show up is in your best interests—and it often isn’t. Even if you aren’t at risk of being charged with failure to appear, if you don’t show up and defend yourself, the judge may have no choice but to convict you.

5. Your First Court Date is Just the First Step in the Criminal Justice Process

Finally, while it is extremely important to make informed decisions about how to approach your first court date, it is equally important to acknowledge that this is just the first step in the criminal justice process. Going forward, you will need to continue making informed, strategic decisions at every step. An experienced Prince William County criminal defense attorney will be able to help you, and by engaging an experienced attorney before your first court date, you can feel confident that you are not putting your finances, your freedom, or your future at risk unnecessarily.

Schedule a Free Consultation with a Prince William County Criminal Defense Attorney Today

Do you have a court date scheduled in Prince William County? If so, we encourage you to contact us promptly for more information. Our attorneys can explain everything you need to know in order to make informed and strategic decisions about your next steps. To schedule a free consultation with an experienced Prince William County criminal defense attorney as soon as possible, call us at 703-897-1777 or tell us how we can reach you online now.