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How Do You Avoid Jail for a Criminal Case in Los Angeles?

Posted by Ronald D. Hedding, ESQ. | Feb 09, 2021

This is probably one of the biggest burning questions on most people's mind.  Nobody wants to go to jail.  Nobody wants their freedom taken away, especially in today's day and age, where you're 15x more likely to catch the Coronavirus if you end up in the LA county jail. There's three different places they can house you:

  • it can either be county jail on Bauchet Street, or
  • across the street at Twin Towers, and
  • they could ship you off to Wayside, which is in Valencia close to Magic Mountain.

All three of these facilities are overcrowded.  They've got inmates on top of each other, face-to-face.  Some of the inmates aren't wearing masks.  They don't have hand sanitizer available.

Although, as I write this post at the end of January 2021, it has gotten much better than it was when the pandemic first came out.

The bottom line, though, is you do not want to be in custody ever, especially with the Coronavirus going on.

Because a lot of times people are missing their court dates and are in a position where they're getting quarantined, so their court date comes up and they can't make the court date, because the bottom line is, they are in a position where they have lost control of their lives.

Mitigating Factors

How Do You Avoid Jail for a Criminal Case in Los Angeles?
It may be possible to avoid jail time for a criminal case in Los Angeles

So, how do you avoid jail or prison time?  Number one, you've got to get a great attorney by your side who can show all of the mitigating factors that you possess, whether that be a:

  • family with kids,
  • a job,
  • whether your family needs you.

So, you have to look at the equities on your side.  In other words, what would you lose if, in fact, you went to jail.

But you have to realize that has limited bite to it because the prosecutors and judge will ask, then why did your client commit this crime?

How are we supposed to punish him if we're just going to take into account everything that's going on in his life.

He or she should have thought about that before they committed this crime in LA county.  So, that's only one small factor.

Punishment and Victim Restitution

The other factor is punishment.  What did you do?  Who did you do it to?  Let's say you took a bunch of money from somebody.  If you can give the money back, now you're helping that person and maybe they're going to give you a break.

If you take $100,000.00 from somebody and give zero money back, they're going to order you to pay it back, but you may have to pay it back over three to five years, and now the victim doesn't get their money or they get it piece by piece.

They're going to take that out of your hide.  They're going to put you in custody for that.  So, you have to also look at it from the judge and prosecutor's point of view as it relates to punishment.

Negotiation for Lesser Charges

So, what I try to do, if you have to take a deal, let's come up with a punishment that doesn't involve jail time, but we also get them what they want. Let's try to anticipate what they're going to say and then let's give that to them.

So, that's one big thing that I think I do better than a lot of other criminal defense attorneys.  I figure out:

  • who am I talking to?
  • who am I preaching to — the judge, the prosecutor?
  • and who is that person?

When you have 30 years of experience doing criminal cases, you're going to have a pretty good feel for who your opponent is. Who the judge is that's on the case, and we're going to figure out a plan that's going to placate them.

But at the same time, allow you to do what you need to do — work, support your family, stay out of jail, not catch the Coronavirus, etc.

Criminal Lawyer for California Crimes

So, I think you start to get a feel that having a great attorney and having a great plan are crucial when it comes to staying out of jail, and you can't cookie-cut it.

Criminal Lawyer for California Crimes
Contact the Hedding Law Firm for a free consultation.

You've got to look at you — who you are, what you're all about, and that's why I have you come in and hear your story.

I hear what your life is all about, then I get everything from the other side and then you and I meet and talk about what we're going to do moving forward.

How are we going to keep you out of jail?  What are we going to give them so they're satisfied and what do we need to do for you so that you're satisfied.

Pick up the phone.  Ask for a meeting with Ron Hedding. You'll be meeting with someone who has 30 years criminal defense experience.

I will figure out how to get your matter resolved the right way, to protect your rights, your freedom and everything that's important to your future.

Hedding Law Firm is a criminal defense law firm located in Los Angeles County at 16000 Ventura Blvd #1208 Encino, CA 91436.

We serve individuals throughout Southern California, including LA County, Orange County, Santa Barbara County, Ventura County, Hollywood, Riverside, and San Bernardino.

Contact us for a free case evaluation at (213) 542-0979.

About the Author

Ronald D. Hedding, ESQ.

Ronald D. Hedding, Esq., is the founding member of the Hedding Law Firm. Mr. Hedding has an extensive well-rounded legal background in the area of Criminal Law. He has worked for the District Attorney's Office, a Superior Court Judge, and as the guiding force behind the Hedding Law Firm. His multi-faceted experience sets Mr. Hedding apart and puts him in an elite group of the best Criminal Defense Attorneys in Southern California.

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