In the days leading up to New Year’s Eve, it seems that every media outlet from The New York Times to BuzzFeed is filled with articles on how to make the most out of your New Year’s celebrations—from which outfits to wear to which bars to visit in your area. In the days following New Year’s, however, the headlines get a lot bleaker—stories about arrests, drunk driving accidents, and domestic abuses scream out from every newspaper and website.

As most of us know, too much alcohol and partying can lead to some pretty uncharacteristic behavior. So on a holiday like New Year’s, when drunkenness is not only tolerated but is expected and to some extent even celebrated, people are bound to make mistakes that they normally would not. The trouble comes when these mistakes lead to criminal charges.

It’s important to know, however, that if you find yourself facing some unexpected charges in the days following New Year’s, it doesn’t have to mean disaster. Don’t let your year be ruined by some partying that got out of hand. You always have the opportunity to take action and defend yourself.

What Could Happen on New Year’s?

Studies have shown that New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day are two of the worst days of the year for certain crimes, including impaired driving, domestic violence, and others.

There is no question that some of these crimes can be attributed to the increased amount of alcohol consumption that always takes place on New Year’s. Here’s a story that every experienced criminal lawyer in Chicago has heard at some point: you may go out on New Year’s Eve with the best intentions only to wake up in a jail cell facing some criminal charge for an act that you can’t even remember committing.

Sometimes, the charges that people face in the days following New Year’s are for things that are completely uncharacteristic of the accused—maybe he or she didn’t even realize what they were doing, or maybe it had seemed genuinely harmless at the time. Nevertheless, if you find yourself facing charges for any crime on New Year’s, the consequences can be serious. Some of the charges you can find yourself faced with include:

DUI. A DUI charge is probably the one most commonly associated with New Year’s. With all the alcohol and drug use happening on New Year’s, DUI accidents are among the most dangerous risks that come with New Year’s celebrations. The harm that could come about as a result of a DUI is almost immeasurable—innocent people can be traumatized, injured, or even killed.

Battery. If a fight breaks out between you and someone else, whether it’s at a bar or a house party, you could wind up facing battery charges. Depending on the severity of the physical damage done, the crime can be classified as either a misdemeanor or a felony. These charges typically mean fines and jail time, both of which could be devastating to you and your family.

Sexual assault. We’re still seeing stories from around the country about alleged sexual assaults that took place on the previous New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. A sexual assault charge is one of the most serious charges that any individual can face. If you use force against anyone to coerce them into having sex, you could be facing some very serious consequences, including years in prison and a stigma that could stay with you and tarnish your reputation for the rest of your life.

These are only a few of the many charges that you may find yourself facing if your partying on New Year’s gets out of hand. Each of them is serious and carries the potential for drastic consequences, from a damaged reputation to multiple years in jail.

You Deserve A Good Defense

For many Americans, New Year’s Eve is a night that they look forward to all year long. Unfortunately, with all the drinking and celebrating going on, you might wake up to find that you’ve made some bad decisions. Hopefully you won’t do anything too severe, but it’s important for you to remember that no matter what you’re charged with, you always have the right to defend yourself. You owe it to yourself to take advantage of that right.

If you find yourself facing criminal accusations for mistakes made during New Year’s celebrations, contact an experienced Chicago defense lawyer right away to discuss your options and start building your defense strategy.

About the Author: Andrew M. Weisberg is a former felony prosecutor who now serves as a defense attorney in the greater Chicago area. He has extensive experience in handling all types of criminal cases, from sex offenses and domestic violence to retail theft-related crimes, Murder, and drug crimes.

Picture this: It’s a chilly winter’s evening in Chicago, and Michigan Ave. is aglow with Christmas lights and bright storefront windows. Snowflakes melt on the ruddy cheeks of shoppers as they bustle down the street with their arms full of bags, laughing as they make their way to the CTA station.

Everything’s peaceful and serene until suddenly—a siren goes off, and someone darts out of a high-end store holding an expensive necklace. Unfortunately for this person—let’s call him “Frank”—there’s heightened security around Michigan Ave this time of year, and a couple of cops are able to stop him immediately.

“Yes, I took the necklace from the store,” Frank admits when the cops question him.

Sounds like that’s it for Frank—he’ll be found guilty of shoplifting in a court of law. Right?

Not necessarily. Even though Frank admitted to taking the necklace, there are many ways an experienced lawyer could argue his innocence. For instance, Frank could have intended to return the necklace immediately. Frank could have misunderstood an employee and thought they wanted him to have the necklace. Frank could have been distracted by other things and walked out of the store with the necklace, thereby shoplifting accidently. Frank could have been threatened with harm by someone else if he didn’t take the necklace. Frank could be mentally handicapped to a point that he should not be held accountable for taking the necklace. These are just some of the many ways a lawyer could protect Frank after he confessed his guilt.

The goal of any good criminal attorney is to get their defendant’s charges reduced or dropped. Even if evidence and your own admission indicates your guilt, you have many options for creating a strong defense with the help of an experienced lawyer. Here are some criminal defense strategies a lawyer may use:

Beyond reasonable doubt. In order to be convicted, the prosecutor must show there is absolutely no reasonable doubt that you committed the crime. By raising even the smallest amount of reasonable doubt, a lawyer might be able to have your charges dropped.

Self-Defense. People have a right to protect themselves and their families from physical harm. If you are charged with a violent crime, a lawyer can argue that you were acting in self-defense. To prove this, the attorney must demonstrate reasonable belief of physical harm that necessitated self-defense, and that your response to the threat was reasonable.

Entrapment. This defense can work if you successfully prove that a police officer or other government authority forced you to commit a crime—such as buying drugs or hiring a prostitute. The government isn’t allowed to punish you for an illegal action they made you perform.

Insanity. To be convicted of a crime, you have to have intended to perform the illegal deed. If a mental illness kept you from fully understanding what you were doing, you can plead insanity—though this is often very difficult to prove. In most cases, a successful insanity plea will land you in a psychiatric institution rather than prison.

Under the Influence. If you were under the influence of drugs, you might be able to argue that you did not have the mental power to control your actions. While this is only a partial defense, it could have your charges reduced to a slightly less serious crime.

The truth. A skilled lawyer can help you tell the truth in such a way that it reflects better on your case. An effective story should be accurate, but include elements that will gain sympathy from the court and explain or justify your behavior.

Preparation. Being well-prepared for your case is an essential defense strategy that a knowledgeable lawyer can assist you with. By informing you of the facts, coaching you, and helping you practice for your trial, an attorney can help you prepare and present the best possible defense. Your lawyer can walk you through complex laws, so you are able to better understand the prosecution’s case and what kind of evidence you need to combat it. An attorney can prepare you with practice interviews, special assignments, and advice that will help you strengthen your case.

The bottom line? Even if you’ve already admitted guilt and the evidence points against you, you can have your charges reduced or dropped—but you need an expert criminal defense lawyer. Whether you have been charged with public indecency, burglary, criminal trespass, or any other crime, an experienced lawyer can help you ensure the best outcome of your case. Don’t put the future well-being, freedom, and reputation of you and your family at risk by attempting to navigate the complex judicial system alone. A smart attorney is a powerful and necessary ally as you fight to defend your rights and civil liberties.

About the Author: Andrew M. Weisberg is a former felony prosecutor who now serves as a defense attorney in the greater Chicago area. He has extensive experience in handling all types of criminal cases, from sex offenses and domestic violence to retail theft-related crimes, Murder, and drug crimes.