Do Not Speak To Anyone Before Speaking With A Criminal Attorney

by | Jan 29, 2016 | Lawyer

When a person is arrested and charged with a crime, they need to hire an attorney as quickly as possible to avoid a conviction if at all possible. Before they get a chance to hire an attorney, however, they should avoid speaking to anyone about their case, especially if they are guilty and can be convicted based on a confession, even if it wasn’t intentional.

Most people know they should avoid speaking with the police about the case. Answering basic questions to prove their identity might be necessary, but they should avoid saying anything else at all. The police can explain the Miranda rights, one of which says anything they say can and will be used against them in a court of law. This means the officer will make a note of everything they say and the prosecution may use it to prove their guilt, even if they didn’t mean it to be an admission of guilt. After proving their identity, they should ask to speak with a lawyer and stop answering any questions the police have until they have a criminal attorney to represent them.

After the arrest, a person may be tempted to tell friends, family members and colleagues what happened. They may need to explain why they did not show up for work one morning or why they needed help for bail. However, they should avoid saying anything more than they were arrested. If pressed for more information, they can always say their lawyer suggests not saying anything until the case is completed. It’s usually okay to say what they were accused of, but that can be a judgement call. They should never say more than what the potential charges are, however, as the prosecution may talk to friends, family and colleagues and anything said could be used against the person in court.

Once a person is arrested, it’s imperative they contact a criminal attorney right away. Their attorney can advise them on what they can and cannot say and who they can talk to that won’t put their case at risk. It’s important for them to follow this and avoid saying as much as possible so they won’t be facing a conviction based on an accidental confession. For more information, a person can speak with Bonnie D. Putterman Attorney at Law today. You can also connect them on Facebook for more updates.

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