Criminal Defense Attorney Tips For Avoiding Additional Damage To Your Legal Case

If you have broken the law and are fearful of the police knocking on your door at any minute, then these criminal defense tips will help you prevent making the situation worse:

Tip: Find a Local Criminal Defence Lawyer and Meet with Them ASAP

Since the law hasn't yet caught up with you, now is a perfect time to find a criminal defense lawyer who you can sit down with and explain your situation to. Even if you can't afford to retain a lawyer right now, sitting down with someone will give you someone knowledgeable you can call if you find yourself in custody in the future. In addition, most criminal defense attorneys offer free initial consultations, so you have nothing to lose by getting some qualified legal advice about your unique situation while you still can. 

Tip: Don't Speak to Anyone About the Crime Other than Your Attorney

While you may realize that you have the right to refuse to speak to law enforcement about your crime, you may not understand this means you never have to say anything to investigating or arresting officers other than your name and address and that you are requesting to speak with a lawyer before being interviewed. Once you say this, law enforcement officers must stop asking you questions and allow you to seek legal advice. 

In addition to not speaking with law enforcement officers and potentially making your case worse, you also should not speak to friends, family, or anyone else about your crime or your case. If you are held in jail pending a bail hearing, make sure you also avoid talking to other people in the jail about your crime. Many people will be willing to "rat" on you to get their own charges lowered or dismissed. 

Tip: Always Deny Requests to Allow Law Enforcement to Search Your Car or Home Without a Warrant

In order for law enforcement officers to search your car or home, they need to have a warrant signed by a judge. However, many officers will ask if you will give them permission to search your car or enter and search your home. Your answer should always be "no" when asked if you will authorize a search without a warrant. Even if you don't have anything to hide, it's always best to require a warrant for searches. In the end, the law might not have enough evidence to get a warrant and won't be able to search at all.

For more information, contact a local defense attorney from a firm like FUNDERBURK  AND LANE


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