A criminal case does not end with a conviction. After a person has been convicted, he or she must be sentenced. While it may seem like a sentence is a foregone conclusion, it is not. Judges do have discretion about what type of sentence to impose on a person who is found guilty of committing a crime. Most of the time, a sentencing hearing is held where the court will hear testimony from both the prosecution and the defense about how strict or lenient the sentence should be. It is, therefore, critical for a defendant to be represented by a Chicago criminal defense attorney at his sentencing.
For example, James Degorksi was found guilty of seven murders in late September. The court now must decide his sentence which could include the death penalty. Last week, at Mr. Degorski’s sentencing his criminal defense lawyers introduced testimony from several psychologists that Mr. Degorski was the victim of sexual and physical abuse by his mentally ill father. This testimony will not undo his conviction nor spare him from a sentence but it may save his life.
If you or a loved one has been charged with a crime then it is important to seek the counsel of an experienced Chicago criminal defense attorney. While it is always best to contact a criminal defense lawyer as soon as possible after your arrest, it is also important to remember that it is never too late to contact a criminal defense lawyer to help you.