What are my options if I have been charged with assault?
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What are my options if I have been charged with assault?
Asked on May 4, 2015 under Criminal Law, Arizona
Answers:
B.H.F., Member, Texas State Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 9 years ago | Contributor
Generally, there are two basic options: enter a plea bargain or go to trial. A plea can entail a wide range of options from probation to actual jail time. Which option or range of options that you will be offered will depend on the severity of the assault and your criminal history.
In some jurisdictions, there is a third option which is the seek some type of resolution with the victim to encourage them to drop the charges. However, this is one option you should not attempt on your own because you do not want to get charged with witness tampering. Instead, I would recommend hiring an attorney or private investigator to get a statement or opinion from the victim. Often, victims already know each other and it's just a matter of paying some restitution. Regardless, you just don't want to risk a higher charge by using this approach on your own.
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