Getting charged with a crime can be an incredibly stressful and confusing experience. However, by following a clear set of steps and working with an experienced criminal defense attorney, you can mitigate the effects of the charges on your life and potentially have them dropped or acquitted at trial.
Exercise your right to remain silent: One of the most important things to remember when confronted with a criminal investigation is that you are not required to speak to police officers or investigators without your lawyer present. This is a critical aspect of your constitutional rights and is often in your best interests, as anything you say to law enforcement officials may be used against you in court.
Do not discuss the case with anyone except your lawyer: This is another common mistake that many people make when facing a criminal charge. Do not talk about the case with friends, family, or coworkers without your attorney’s permission as this can jeopardize your defense and cause miscommunication. This can also lead to inadvertent self-incrimination.
Avoid speaking to the media: It is very important that you avoid contacting any journalists before or after your trial to ensure your privacy and the integrity of the legal process. Doing so can damage your reputation, and it can also give the prosecution ammunition against you.
Contact a criminal defense attorney: It is crucial to consult with an experienced criminal defense attorney as soon as possible after being charged with a crime. Your attorney can review the charges against you and provide a detailed explanation of your legal options moving forward.
Understand the charges against you: Upon being charged, you will be officially informed of what crimes you are accused of in a document known as a criminal complaint. This will serve as the basis for any judicial proceedings that follow.
Be punctual: It is very important to arrive at court on time as lateness can reflect poorly on your appearance and disrupt the court’s schedule. Also, it is very important to dress appropriately for court; attire should be professional and conservative, and it should not contain any logos or bold colors.
Despite what you might see in movies or read in books, the victim of a crime does not typically file criminal charges against a suspect. It is up to a government prosecutor to decide whether or not to press charges, and they make this decision on the basis of their evaluation of evidence gathered from the investigation. Victims can play an important role in this process, however, by providing testimony and offering other key support.
