Surprisingly, many people do not believe that they have any chance of avoiding jail after being charged with a criminal offense in Los Angeles County.  However, the fact of the matter is that the law gives defendants an advantage in criminal cases by hiring a lawyer and asserting their rights.  In fact most judges will tell you that to represent yourself is stupid and will usually mean you will be at a major disadvantage when going up against the district attorney who will appoint a seasoned prosecutor to press charges against you.