If you have been charged with a crime, you are probably wondering if it is worth hiring a private criminal attorney or if you should ask for a public defender. Of course, most people would like to save money, but generally speaking you shouldn't sacrifice your criminal case to save a few bucks. Here are some reasons why hiring a private criminal attorney is superior to a public defender.

1. A Private Attorney Will Have More Time

One of the biggest downsides to hiring a public defender is that they have too many cases. Public defenders are given cases whether or not they can handle them. They have to take cases, which means that they are often bombarded with too many cases at once. This means that the preparation that they will do on your case will be drastically less than what a private defender could do.

When you get into court, you need your defender to be prepared and ready to represent you. If you hire a private attorney, you will be able to meet with them a couple times to go over strategies for fighting for your cause, and you can be confident that they are putting in enough time to make a solid argument in your defense.

2. You Can Hand Pick A Private Attorney

Another reason why you should hire a private attorney is that it allows you to choose an attorney that actually has experience in your specific charge. There are many criminal attorneys out there. Some have more experience in sexual assault cases while others have more experience in petty theft. You need to make sure that the lawyer that you hire has experience in your specific area; this will improve your chances of having a good outcome and will make them more qualified to give you legal advice based on your individual situation.

If you get a public defender, they have to take whatever case they are handed. This means you could have someone who has never defended a crime like yours, and who has very little experience with your specific needs.

If you are only hiring a public defender to save money, don't! There are people who honestly need public defenders, but if you can afford it, you should hire a private attorney. The amount of money you will spend on the attorney will be nothing compared to the time in prison and a criminal record if you lose the case because your attorney wasn't able to represent you in the way you needed. 

Contact legal offices like Law Offices Of Jerald Silvia for more information.