When the court files a criminal case against you, it means that you have charges to face. Facing criminal charges is a tough place to be, as you could end up in jail or facing other consequences. You might have the option of taking a plea bargain when facing your charges, but you do not have to accept it. Instead, you could go to trial and hope the court does not convict you. If you weigh these options, you might wonder if the court will convict you. Here are several things to consider if you are in this position.

The Court Convicts with Enough Evidence

The primary thing to know about convictions is the way the court handles them. The court cannot convict a person without enough evidence. In fact, the court needs enough evidence to know that you committed the crime without any reasonable doubt in their minds. Many criminal cases involve juries that hear the cases, and they get to decide if a person is guilty or not. The judge will tell them that they cannot convict unless they are absolutely certain that the defendant is guilty. As you look at the evidence surrounding your case, your lawyer can normally know if there is enough evidence against you or if it's insufficient or weak.

Your Criminal Lawyer Uses the "Doubt" Strategy

The second thing to realize is the way a criminal lawyer builds a defense for a defendant. Your lawyer uses a "doubt" strategy, which means they will cause the court to doubt that you committed the crime. If they have any reasonable doubt about your guilt, they cannot legally choose a guilty verdict. They must acquit you instead.

A Plea Bargain Reduces the Risks You Take

The final thing to realize is that you can reduce the risks of a criminal court trial by accepting a plea bargain if the prosecution offers one. A plea bargain states that you must admit guilt to the charges, while the court might lower the charges or punishment. When you accept this, you will know the outcome of your case without going through a trial, which reduces the risks you take in the case.

As you consider these things, you might want to talk to your criminal lawyer to find out what they suggest. You have options, but you should not proceed without legal representation. If you do not have a criminal defense lawyer, you might want to hire one before proceeding.