A Step-by-Step Guide on How to Handle a Criminal Charge
Numerous life situations can turn your life into a living nightmare, and one of them is definitely being charged with a crime. That’s something that no one ever wants to experience.
Yes, you’ve seen these things on TV, but seeing them and actually going through them is something else for sure. All of a sudden, your life is turned upside-down, the future isn’t certain or bright, and you get a feeling as if you have no idea what to do.
These things indeed can be difficult to navigate, however, there are a couple of steps that you can take that will help you make this situation a bit less intricate. To help you out, this article will outline the most pivotal ones.
Attorney, Attorney, Attorney
There aren’t a lot of people who can be as beneficial in these types of situations as a defense attorney. In fact, Criminal Defense attorneys should be the first people to be contacted when a person is confronted with criminal charges. Bear in mind that these situations can be extremely stressful, and if someone is dealing with them for the first time, they may not know how to react and behave.
Lots of people in these instances have the tendency to be very impulsive and even aggressive, which can only make things worse in their case. What they fail to realize is that anything they say or do can be used against them in court.
That’s precisely why it’s critical to stay calm, and silent, and ensure you have a legal expert in your corner. These professionals have a plethora of experience when it comes to cases like yours, and they know exactly what’s supposed to be said and done.
They’ll try to help you better understand the entire, intricate legal system, explain your rights, and focus on developing powerful defense strategies. Although you are allowed to talk to your friends and family, remember that you shouldn’t disclose anything that may potentially harm your case.
Be Calm As Much As Possible
Yes, this is certainly easier said than done, but keep reminding yourself that by doing so, you’ll prevent any additional charges. It is hard to stay calm, cool, and collected, but the reality is that you do not have many options left.
There’s no point in arguing with anyone right now, especially with the police, or even worse, obstructing justice in any way. Those are the actions that could surely result in additional charges.
Instead, it would be much more effective if you stayed calm as much as possible and concentrated on other important steps that need to be taken. For now, take a deep breath and remember that you have a criminal defense lawyer in your life, who’s going to take care of your situation.
It’s Advised To Be Familiar With Your Rights
Even though this is something that your criminal defense advocate will remind you of, it still doesn’t hurt to mention it, because as a defendant, you have numerous rights that you should be familiar with, and the most important ones include these:
- Right to be informed of the charge
- Right to have an attorney
- Right to remain silent
- Right to have a fair trial
- Right to the presumption of innocence
- Right to appeal
- Right to a reasonable bail
It’s essential to know about these things when facing criminal charges because these facts are going to help you properly defend yourself in court.
Focus On Collecting Evidence
This is something that you should do before you hire a criminal defense solicitor; however, if you haven’t already done it, then they will surely remind you to do so. Various important pieces of evidence should be gathered that could greatly benefit your case, such as pictures, videos, text messages, emails, and the statements of the witnesses.
Once all of them are gathered, be sure to share them with your attorney because they know what to do with them. Additionally, be sure to jot down every important detail that led to your arrest, while it’s still fresh in your memory.
Stay Away From Social Media Platforms
In these instances, social media platforms can be detrimental to your case, regardless of how benign they may appear to be at first glance. That’s why you should refrain from posting anything because it could be used against you.
When a person is facing criminal charges, they may feel as if they have completely lost control of their life. This may be the case right now; however, if you take all the steps that were mentioned today, you’ll slowly regain that control.
