Sunday, December 29, 2019

Why You Should Trust Your Criminal Defense Lawyer

When facing a criminal charge, your good reputation and your freedom are at stake. It is therefore understandable if you find it difficult to put your trust in another person to safeguard your interests. An experienced criminal defense lawyer like Robert A. Dodell, Attorney At Law, knows this only too well. After all, Attorney Dodell has personally been defending criminal cases in the state of Arizona for over 3 decades now. Cooperation and mutual trust between you and your lawyer are crucial in order to build a solid defense for your criminal case.

Importance of Trust between a Lawyer and His Client

Trust is among the most important elements of a good lawyer-client working relationship. After all, your defense strategy, no matter how solid, may not work if you don’t trust the advice given by your lawyer. In a lot of instances, your lawyer may need to say something to you that he knows you don’t want to hear. Bear in mind that one of the hardest parts of being a lawyer is to be the bearer of bad news to their clients. These may include situations when facing incarceration or that you need to accept a plea bargain to a specific charge. If you trust your lawyer, and the trust has been forged over the time you have been working together, then you are likely to be more receptive to his legal advice.

Honesty from Your Lawyer

You will find it easier to trust your lawyer if he is honest and upfront about your case. It should raise a red flag if your lawyer is making a lot of promises that seem too good to be true. Who would not be turned off if they heard their attorney bragging that he could make this or that charge go away, or that you will get a not guilty verdict on every charge – right in your first consultation meeting! To avoid this grave mistake in hiring a lawyer, it is important that you make sure that you consider only a lawyer who is straightforward with his clients. If he says that he will let you know everything he knows about the case, and when it is decision-making time, he will make sure that you can come up with an educated and informed decision, and that decision will be the basis for your future actions together – then you have found a trustworthy lawyer. Just as important to the need for you to have a trustworthy lawyer to listen to is the need for your lawyer to listen to you and your concerns.  The attorney-client relationship is a two-way street. The lawyer must listen to you. The case is about you, not your lawyer. If your lawyer advises you to accept a plea, but you want a trial, the lawyer will take the matter to trial and work hard on your behalf. It’s enough that you know your attorney has laid down all your options, and he allows you to make a well-informed choice. At the end of the day, it is your decision as to the client that will prevail. The job of your lawyer is to review everything with you. This way, you can be sure that whatever choice you make, you are making it in an informed one, and that you have considered everything. If you don’t trust your lawyer, you will tend to communicate less. This can compromise your successful defense.

Following are some tips that may help forge trust between you and your lawyer:

  • Ask the lawyer about his experience, specifically in cases like yours.
  • Ask him the number of cases he has won and lost.
  • Ask how he prepares for a defense, and how he conducts an investigation to gather details about your case.
  • Be open with your concerns about your case.
Take note of how the lawyer responds to these questions as these will indicate his commitment to you and your defense. If you or your loved ones are facing a criminal charge in Arizona, get in touch with Robert A. Dodell, Attorney At Law, right away. He is a lawyer that can be trusted.  The initial consultation is free.

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Robert A. Dodell, Attorney at Law - Serving Scottsdale, Tempe & Mesa, AZ

10601 N Hayden Rd, #I-103

Scottsdale, AZ 85260

(480) 860-4321

httpss://goo.gl/maps/diwY4pu8X5m

Tuesday, December 10, 2019

Discussion About Proposition 200

A voter initiative that was passed in the state of Arizona back in 1996, Proposition 200 provided considerable protection for people who were charged with drug possession. Enacted as Arizona Revised Statutes § 13-901.01 under the Arizona Revised Statutes, the law has been modified a few times over its lifetime. The changes include which types of drug are eligible for protection under Proposition 200.

What the Law Does

According to A.R.S. § 13-901.01 (A) of the Arizona Revised Statutes, once you get a conviction for personal use or possession of drug paraphernalia or controlled substance, the court is mandated to put you under probation. You cannot be sentenced to jail or prison. A court can ordinarily require jail time as one of the probation conditions However, if the case is only your first conviction for a drug offence, you cannot be given a jail or prison term. This is a condition under your probation order under A.R.S. § 13-901.01 (E). The court shall select the additional conditions it deems necessary, including intensified drug treatment, community restitution, intensive probation, home arrest or any other sanctions. If, however, this is your second drug offence conviction, then the Court could sentence you to jail, as a condition of probation pursuant to A.R.S. § 13-901.01 (F). You cannot be sentenced to prison. Still, the court may include additional conditions of probation it deems necessary, including intensified drug treatment, community restitution, intensive probation, home arrest or any other action within the jurisdiction of the court.

Who Is Not Covered by the Law?

If you have received a conviction or an indictment for a violent crime, under § 13-901.01 of the Arizona Revised Statutes, then there is the reason for concern because under A.R.S. § 13-901.01 (B), Proposition 200 is not available. By definition, a violent crime happens when a criminal act results in physical injury or death, or the criminal makes use of a dangerous instrument or deadly weapon. Similarly, if you get convicted for possession of a prohibited or controlled substance that is intended for sale, transport, manufacture, or production, then pursuant to A.R.S. § 13-901.01 (C), you are not eligible for Proposition 200. Now, if you are a habitual offender, and this is at least your third conviction for personal possession of drug paraphernalia or a controlled substance, you are also not covered, according to A.R.S. § 13-901.01 (H). Similarly, if you decline drug treatment as one of the terms of your probation or if you reject probation, you are not covered under Proposition 200 and the Court can impose jail or prison time. There is one specific drug which takes you out of Proposition 200. If the drug involved is methamphetamines, then you will not be covered under Proposition 200, even on a first offence.

How Can You Use Proposition 200?

No two cases are the same; each one is unique in some way. This is why you need to get the services of a skilled and experienced drug defense lawyer to handle your drug case. More importantly, your particular case may potentially be covered by the provisions of Proposition 200. On your own, you may not be able to see all your available options, as well as the potential problem areas that may compromise your successful defense. With an experienced attorney, like Robert A. Dodell, Attorney at Law, everything will be reviewed as the case moves forward. There is no doubt you can use Proposition 200 to your advantage under the right circumstances. It can help mitigate the potential damage that you may incur. However, you cannot rely solely on Proposition 200 to bail you out of your predicament. For one, it cannot keep you away from a possible conviction. Thus, it is thus important that you get in touch with a lawyer who has plenty of experience in defending similar cases. This way, together, you can come up with the best possible defense for your particular case. If you need more information about Proposition 200, or you need an experienced lawyer to defend you in your pending criminal case, Attorney Robert A. Dodell is available for a free initial consultation. Attorney Dodell has more than 3 decades of solid experience defending criminal cases. Schedule an appointment with Robert A. Dodell, Attorney at Law, right away.  

Discussion About Proposition 200 Read more on: call us – Robert Dodell Law Offices Discussion About Proposition 200 first appeared on:

Robert A. Dodell, Attorney at Law - Serving Scottsdale, Tempe & Mesa, AZ

10601 N Hayden Rd, #I-103

Scottsdale, AZ 85260

(480) 860-4321

httpss://goo.gl/maps/diwY4pu8X5m