If you are facing a serious criminal charge, you will need an attorney. If you can’t afford one, the court will add a public defender. Is this the right choice or could it end up costing you your freedom? It depends on numerous factors.
First, a public defender is a criminal attorney appointed by the court to defend those who cannot afford to hire an attorney. Most public defenders are within the first five years of graduating from law school and are using this position to gain experience. For minor criminal charges that involve jail time, a public defender is probably fine. However, if you are thinking of spending years in prison, then it is best to find a way to hire an attorney. Talk to your family and friends to see if they will help you.
There really is no substitute for an experienced criminal attorney. For serious criminal charges, you can expect to pay quite a bit for the retainer and for other expenses, such as court costs, copies, and experts, if necessary. Defending some cases can cost millions of dollars, even millions of dollars. If you cannot pay for this, then you will have a public defender.
Some judges will appoint a criminal attorney to work “pro bono.” This means that they work for free. There are several bar associations that also offer their services on a sliding scale, which means that the amount you pay is based on your income. Unfortunately, most of these associations are only found in the largest cities. However, if you can qualify to use one of these attorneys, it is probably better than using a public defender. If the judge appoints a pro bono attorney to defend him, it’s really a coin toss if he’s getting a good attorney.
In closing, if you are charged with a felony, it is time to hire a great criminal attorney. Public defenders, while quite capable, are often overwhelmed with clients. The time they can spend on your case may be minimal, which means you may not get the best representation. You can find a cheap attorney who just graduated from law school, but experience is what will make your case a favorable outcome. Unfortunately, you can hire the best criminal attorney money can buy and still end up going to jail. It all depends on the evidence and witnesses against you, how the prosecutor presents the state’s case, and ultimately the verdict of the judge or jury.