What happens during the appeals process?

A criminal conviction is devastating as the penalties associated with this may affect the rest of your life. Depending on the nature of the charges you are facing and other details of your case, a conviction could result in time behind bars, expensive fines, a permanent mark on your criminal record and much more. While the implications are serious, this may not be the end of the road for you. You may have the option to appeal.

There is a limited amount of time in which you can seek an appeal, which is why quick action is necessary and important. It may be in your interests to learn more about whether you are eligible for this and how you can seek a different outcome to your case. You have the right to continue to fight for your personal freedom and long-term interests, even after a conviction.

Can you seek an appeal?

Not everyone convicted of a crime will be eligible to seek an appeal. The criminal justice system provides an opportunity for those who believe they faced a wrongful conviction to seek a different outcome to their case. Common reasons individuals choose to seek an appeal include the following:

• Your legal counsel was ineffective, or there is reason to suspect improper procedure.
• You believe there was no probable cause for your arrest.
• The prosecution acted improperly to the extent of influencing the jury.
• There were errors made during the trial process.
• The evidence does not support a conviction.

These are only a few of the reasons why you may choose to pursue an appeal. A careful evaluation of your case will reveal if this is a prudent course of action for you.

The appeals process explained

During the appeals process, you will have to provide evidence of a mistake or error that affected the outcome of your case. The appeals court will look at all of the elements of your case in order to determine if a mistake or some type of negligence affected the outcome.

Establishing an error in the criminal justice process is not always easy, but you have the right to keep fighting for a beneficial outcome to your case. If you think that an appeal is a prudent course of action, taking immediate action to pursue this option is wise. A successful appeal means the court will overturn your conviction, and it may mean that you cannot face prosecution for that same crime again in the future.