People face criminal charges in Las Vegas regularly, but not everyone can afford the services of a veteran defense attorney. In such cases, people turn to veteran public defenders instead. These lawyers represent clients without expecting immediate compensation, and can be just as good as private practices when push comes to shove.
Public defenders are oftentimes listed in most criminal proceedings like felony or gross misdemeanor hearings. They are not limited to such cases, however. Let’s look at other situations where you can work with a public defender in Las Vegas.
Parole Hearings
Prison inmates don’t always have financial assistance from outside. As such, most inmates can’t really afford to have legal counsel when summoned for a parole hearing. In such cases, the prisoner can request for a public defender to represent him during the hearings. Many public defenders are trained in dealing with prisoner rights and can effectively argue for the merits of paroling an inmate.
Juvenile Trials
Many minor defendants come from families who would have a hard time paying for a lawyer. As such, many juvenile trials involve public defenders representing these minors. As many cases in juvenile courts take less time to be heard than in adult courts, seeking a public defender over a private firm is more cost-efficient in the long run. The pay-later scheme also works as a plus.
Involuntary Commitment Hearings
An involuntary commitment involves the confinement to a medical institution of a person suffering from a treatable mental disorder against his or her wishes. This cannot be accomplished unless the court determines through a legal hearing that there are grounds to confine the individual. Public defenders have the expertise to handle such sensitive cases, and are more affordable in certain cases when compared to private firms.
Parental Termination Proceedings
Parental termination refers to the removal of a person’s rights to be a parent or legal guardian of another person. This is often an issue between spouses, problems with a legally-recognized guardian, or a case involving an abusive family. Perceived neglect is one of the most common reasons why parental termination charges are filed. In some instances, the neglect is involuntary and is the result of financial troubles. Public defenders can help in such cases if the defendant is short on funds.
Public defenders can cover a lot of legal hearings thanks to their experience. They can be a reliable alternative for people who can’t afford the services of a private defense attorney. Read up more on public defenders to see what other services they can provide for you.