which of the following is not a tactic the defense attorney may use to diminish your credibility?

by Aliza Becker 6 min read

What are defenses in criminal law?

8 key factors drive what your best defense strategy is: Defendant's explanation of what happened, why and credibility. Witness testimony and credibility. Provable facts and physical evidence. Police reports, errors and credibility. Expert, 3rd party reports and testimony. Penal code charge and the required crime elements to prove.

How does a defense attorney develop a defense strategy?

Insurance companies use your unfamiliarity with the situation in order to devalue and diminish claims. Do not accept legal advice from an insurance company for the at-fault party. You should consult a personal injury attorney to advise you of your rights in what you may seek in your injury claim under the law. 9.

How to choose the best criminal defense attorney tactics?

Defense Strategies. Defenses are arguments with supporting evidence that a defense attorney puts forth to secure the freedom of his or her client. A defense grows out of a defendant's version of the events in the alleged crime. It is intended to bring about the most favorable outcome for the defendant (for example, a verdict of not guilty or an ...

How effective is diminished responsibility as a defense to criminal charges?

Rehabilitation means restoring the credibility of the witness. This is usually done during re-direct. The attorney who called the witness hopes to show the jury that the testimony during cross-examination did not diminish the credibility of the witness. Examples of ways to rehabilitate witnesses who were impeached by the tactics described above:

What is a criminal defense lawyer?

Criminal defense lawyers provide counsel and representation to clients dealing with criminal investigations, accusations, arrest, warrants, criminal charges, sentencing, probation, appeals and post-trial issues.

What is the job of a criminal defense attorney?

The job of a criminal defense lawyer is to select the best criminal defense attorney tactics after reviewing a case's facts and circumstances.

What is the advantage of being a public defense lawyer?

Former prosecutors and public defense lawyers can have an advantage from the extensive training and volume of cases they handle as government lawyers as well as learning the inside operation of the legal system.

What are the qualities of a good lawyer?

Clear communication and a good personality that works well with you. Compassion and ability to assist with the emotional aspects of trials. Intelligence, ability to evaluate all factors and develop a successful defense strategy. Lawyer resources for investigations, experts and alternative sentencing options.

Why is it not considered a crime to carry out a crime?

In the event that somebody carries out a crime simply because they believed they were in immediate risk of harm, their actions might not be considered a crime since they were made under duress.

What is the source of incorrect accusations?

1. Mistaken identity. Incorrect witness identification is a major source for incorrect accusations. This can happen if a person’s description is similar to a criminal perpetrator or if a witness assumes someone committed a crime due to circumstances or they are trying to cover for a crime they committed. 2.

Which states do not allow insanity defense?

Did not understand that the act was morally wrong. Kansas, Montana, Idaho and Utah do not allow the insanity defense. Other state jurisdictions each utilize one or more of the four following legal tests of insanity:

What to do if you are injured by someone else's negligence?

If you were injured because of someone else’s negligence, you should consult with an attorney about your rights and what you may be entitled to for your injuries. 8.

What to tell an insurance adjuster about pain and suffering?

Some insurance adjusters may try to tell you that you’re not entitled to seek damages for pain and suffering for injuries, or that you can only recover a certain amount. They may also try to tell you there is no recovery for lost wages. They may try to tell you a certain low-ball amount is fair considering the law or what you could seek in your claim, knowing that is not true. Insurance companies use your unfamiliarity with the situation in order to devalue and diminish claims.

Why do insurance adjusters exist?

They solely exist to protect and promote the interests of their employer – the insurance company. The insurance company’s ultimate goal is to pay out nothing or as little as possible on every claim – that is, to deny and devalue claims. Every insurance adjuster is trained, and trained well, by the insurance company to promote this ultimate goal.

What is blanket medical authorization?

Getting an injury victim to sign a blanket medical authorization, unlimited in time and scope, is another tactic employed by insurance companies. It is a frequently-used tactic because it is a powerful tool that allows the insurance company to obtain a host of private information about you that you would never even suspect.

What happens if you lose your car?

Insurance companies know that many people will be facing financial difficulties after suffering an injury. You may be facing medical bills, losing time from work, losing your car because it was totaled or has to be fixed, and generally dealing with stress from all angles in your personal life, family life, and work life.

Do insurance companies fight for medical bills?

Similarly related, insurance companies routinely fight a portion of an injured person’s medical bills or treatment to devalue claims. They may say, well you may have been injured by the collision, but we don’t believe you could have been that injured.

Why do people get caught off guard?

This is done for a variety of reasons – mostly to catch you off guard 1) in a vulnerable spot soon after a traumatic event like a car collision; 2) before you’ve had time to determine the full extent of your injuries; and 3) before you’ve had an opportunity to hire a lawyer.

What is the most common defense?

The most common defense. The most common defense is that the prosecution failed to prove the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. By raising questions about the credibility of the prosecution's witnesses, the defense counsel seeks to create reasonable doubt in the minds of the jurors so they will acquit the defendant.

What is defense strategy?

Defense Strategies. Defenses are arguments with supporting evidence that a defense attorney puts forth to secure the freedom of his or her client. A defense grows out of a defendant's version of the events in the alleged crime.

What are the two types of defenses?

Most criminal defenses fall under two categories, excuse , and exculpation . An excuse exempts a person from potential liability because that person belongs to a group sharing a common characteristic. A police officer who injures a suspect during a lawful arrest may be immune from prosecution because she was acting in the course of official duties.

What is self defense?

Protecting Yourself and Others. Self-defense involves acts of violence or deadly force committed to protecting oneself or another person. This defense is based on the belief that people should be allowed to protect themselves from physical danger.

What is the infancy defense?

Some states allow the infancy defense which excuses a minor from liability for acts that would qualify as a criminal if committed by an adult. In some cases, the prosecutor or judge has the discretion to decide whether the minor understood his actions were wrong, and, to proceed to try the individual as an adult.

Who was the woman who burned down her house?

Francine Hughes, subject of the 70's book The Burning Bed, endured 13 years of domestic violence at the hands of her husband. She burned down her house with a drunk, sleeping Mr. Hughes inside. Testimony about her abusive relationship helped Hughes receive a not guilty by reason of temporary insanity verdict.

What is the defense against insanity?

Innocence by Insanity. The insanity defense prevents a mentally-incapacitated person from being criminally punished. It is based on the McNaghten rule, which defines insanity as the inability to determine right from wrong.

Does involuntary intoxication excuse criminal conduct?

Involuntary intoxication doesn't excuse criminal conduct. The law expects a person to know that drinking and taking drugs affects mental functioning and therefore holds one legally responsible for acts occurring under the influence.

What happens when two parties consent to engage in an act that results in injury to one of them?

If two parties consent to engage in an act that results in injury to one of them, has a crime been committed? A defendant using the consent defense maintains no crime was committed because the actions in question were done with the victim's consent.

Protecting Yourself and Others

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Self-defense involves acts of violence or deadly force committed to protecting oneself or another person. This defense is based on the belief that people should be allowed to protect themselves from physical danger. The degree of violence used must be comparable or in proportion to the threat faced. The key issues of …
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Victims of Abuse

  • Physical and psychological abuse can lead people to commit violent acts against their tormentors. A defendant facing charges in this instance could employ the abuse defense, a specialized version of self-defense. Battered woman syndrome is an example of the abuse defense. Although some medical professionals debate the severity of this mental condition, the …
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A Just Murder

  • A woman kills an assailant who is trying to rape her. A store clerk fatally wounds a gunman during a holdup. A man kills an intruder found breaking into his home. When is killing someone justified? A justifiable homicide defense involves a case that would otherwise have been a murder or intentional killing that excuses the accused from all or some criminal liability. Although there is …
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Innocence by Insanity

  • The insanity defense prevents a mentally-incapacitated person from being criminally punished. It is based on the McNaghten rule, which defines insanity as the inability to determine right from wrong. Due to mental illness, the defendant was incapable of controlling his actions, or, the defendant knew his actions were wrong but could not control them (irresistible impulse). This d…
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Acting Under The Influence

  • Involuntary intoxication doesn't excuse criminal conduct. The law expects a person to know that drinking and taking drugs affects mental functioning and therefore holds one legally responsible for acts occurring under the influence. However, a defendant may use the under the influence defense to claim mental faculties were so impaired due to drugs or alcohol that he or she shoul…
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When You Aren't in Control

  • During an epileptic seizure, Donna loses control of her car, crashes into a sidewalk, and injures two pedestrians. Her best defense is automatism, a combination of excuse and exculpation. Donna was not in control of her actions due to a physical problem (epilepsy) so she will argue this excuses her from liability and frees her from culpability for the injuries and damage caused by th…
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Children and Crime

  • Some states allow the infancy defense which excuses a minor from liability for acts that would qualify as a criminal if committed by an adult. In some cases, the prosecutor or judge has the discretion to decide whether the minor understood his actions were wrong, and, to proceed to try the individual as an adult. A murder charge will almost always get a teen-aged defendant tried a…
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The Entrapment Defense

  • Can the government trick you into committing a crime and then prosecute you for doing so? Yes, it's called entrapment. The government uses it in cases involving drugs, bribery of public officials, counterfeiting, price controlling, and prostitution. Entrapment as a defense rarely succeeds, especially if the defendant has prior convictions for the same crime or the jury believes the accu…
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Mutual Agreement

  • If two parties consent to engage in an act that results in injury to one of them, has a crime been committed? A defendant using the consent defense maintains no crime was committed because the actions in question were done with the victim's consent. Consent as a defense is rarely successful against criminal liability. It does not apply to cases involving incest, excessive violen…
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