Will Any Witnesses Be Allowed To Speak At My Sentencing Hearing?
Typically, witnesses do not speak at sentencing hearings. However, as with any rule, there are exceptions. Often, especially in more serious cases, the victim can give a victim impact statement. The judge will also listen if the defendant wants to say anything or provide any statement. You need to understand what happens at a sentencing hearing in Los Angeles.
As a criminal defendant, you will definitely impact your sentencing. You will tell your sentencing attorney what happened from your perspective and give them your version of events.
Then, your criminal defense attorney will professionally translate your events. If it's a serious enough case that a judge is going
to be making the decision, then it is often a good idea for you to speak for yourself. The sentencing hearing is different for misdemeanor and felony cases.
The judge will consider that to determine whether you have any remorse for what happened, understand what you did wrong, and will do something like this again.
Opportunities For Further Reductions In The Sentencing Process
The sentence you receive will depend on whether your attorney and the prosecutor worked out a deal beforehand.
That would be the sentence if they worked out an agreement and you signed the plea forms. The judge is not going to change it at the last minute.
On the other hand, if it's a situation where the judge will be deciding the sentence, your attorney can send the court a written sentencing petition. They can then make an oral argument to the judge to convince the judge to give you the sentence you want.
The best criminal defense attorneys can talk on their feet and are successful because they know their client's case and what's important to their client.
What Can I Do To Mitigate The Outcome Of My Los Angeles Criminal Case?
The first thing you can do to mitigate the outcome of your case is to sit down with your attorney and give them a complete, honest, and accurate assessment of what happened.
Even if it makes you look bad, your attorney needs to know to counter some of that when the prosecutor brings it up. Next, you'll need to follow your attorney's instructions and provide any information they require.
Finally, prepare a statement. Talk to your attorney about it, and if it's a situation where a statement is appropriate, you will want to show remorse without giving excuses. By taking responsibility and owning what you did, the judge will get a better indication that you've learned your lesson, and you may deserve a break.
