How can you maintain your innocence in a criminal case?

Facing criminal charges can change a person’s life forever. A conviction for allegations can have even more negative effects, which is why it is important for an accused person to go over his or her criminal defense options in hopes of working toward the best outcome possible. You may not think that creating a defense is necessary because you know you did not commit a crime, but still, understanding the “I didn’t do it” defense strategy is vital.

You may wonder whether you can even take this approach in court, and it certainly is an option. However, maintaining your innocence can come in different forms, and you may want to choose the route with which you feel most comfortable.

The obligation of the prosecution

In any criminal case, the prosecution has the obligation to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the accused person committed the crime in question, and the accused person is innocent until proven guilty. This means that, technically, a defendant could sit back and do nothing during his or her case and simply allow the prosecution to present evidence. Remaining silent and not offering evidence to support your claim of innocence is one route to consider.

Of course, sitting back and doing nothing typically is not the best course to take and can make some people uncomfortable. After all, the prosecution may present evidence that you know does not show your guilt but that the jury may see in a different way. As a result, many defendants choose to combat the prosecution’s evidence with information of their own.

Sewing doubt

Because the prosecution must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, creating doubt is a common and often effective defense strategy. One way to sew doubt is to present an alibi. If you have evidence that you were at a different location than where the crime occurred, the jury may doubt that you committed the crime.

Doubt can be a major player in a criminal defense case, and if you have recently had charges brought against you, you may wish to determine what ways you could create doubt of your guilt and maintain your innocence. Going over your available defense options with an experienced Boston attorney may allow you to create a plan that will help you to work toward the best outcome possible.