When Oregon residents face criminal charges, there’s a lot to figure out. From a practical standpoint, a defendant’s life may face immediate changes—depending on the nature of the charges. Defendants could lose their jobs, face restricted access to their children or loved ones or, of course, face time behind bars as they wait for their case to be resolved. No matter the criminal charge, one thing is common to every criminal case: the need for law enforcement officials and prosecutors to secure evidence for a potential conviction.
So, what’s the evidence in your criminal case? Some of our readers may think of “evidence” as physical items like, for example, guns, drugs or cash, among many other potential items. However, “evidence” can also be offered in court in the form of eyewitness testimony or, really, any type of testimony from any type of witness. Photographs, video or voice recordings or even DNA test results are also different forms of evidence in criminal cases, among other possibilities.
Evaluating your case
One of the first things that prosecutors are supposed to do in criminal cases is provide a defendant and the defendant’s legal representation with all of the evidence the prosecution has in the case. That includes evidence that might not support a potential conviction—all evidence, “good” or “bad” for the defendant, must be provided.
When you know what the evidence is in your case, a thorough evaluation is necessary to try to determine where you stand. In some cases, the evidence seems to be so strong that defendants feel compelled to begin plea negotiations. In others, defendants may feel like they have a chance to push the case all the way to trial to have the best chance to “beat” the case. Evaluating the evidence in your case is crucial.