> Sure, but what does a competent defense look like when someone is caught on CCTV breaking into a cell phone store and stealing phones Protecting their rights

> Sure, but what does a competent defense look like when someone is caught on CCTV breaking into a cell phone store and stealing phones Protecting their rights? Ensuring an overly zealous prosecutor doesn't overcharge the case? I was the defendant in a case (charges dropped completely very quickly) where the prosecutor had flagged me as a "flight risk" and wanted me held with a stupid amount of bail and a surrendered passport because I was "here on a temporary work visa only" (actually, lived here 17 years as a permanent resident) and had "no ties to the community" (other than owning a house in the area for several years, working in the area, including as a volunteer firefighter/paramedic, oh, and having a partner and child). I would easily have spent a good amount of time sitting in jail before the charges were dropped if I hadn't had competent representation, and that's even before we consider the facts of my case.