How should you deal with the police when you’re innocent?
Unfortunately, many individuals are accused of crimes they did not commit. What’s worse is that sometimes they are found guilty even though they had nothing to do with the situation, not even in the slightest. What can you do when you end up in such a terrible situation?
You must do everything you can to protect yourself. Here are some tips that can come in handy:
Refrain from Making Statements
Remember how detectives say “anything you say, can and will be used against you?” Well, this is something you need to keep in mind when you are falsely accused as well. From the moment the cops arrest you, anything you say, even something as simple as a location or the fact that you disliked a victim may be used against you. Don’t give statements, hoping that you’ll look good; it’s your right to remain silent until your attorney comes.
Be Aware of How Much Defense Will Cost
Especially if you were wrongfully charged with a crime, it is crucial to build a strong defence. But the bad part about it is that building a strong defence is not that easy if you do not have money. It will cost you a lot, as you will have to pay for investigation costs, attorney fees, and also expert witness fees.
Sure, you may be annoyed at the fact that you have to pay so much money to defend yourself against a false charge – it’s normal. But that doesn’t mean you should not do anything about it. Your life is in play, after all, so you must ensure that you can build the strongest case and win.
Understand How Serious the Accusations Are
You should realize how serious the accusations are, as well as how serious the penalties and offences involved may be. You are innocent, and you know that – but the prosecutor, jury, police, and judge do not know it. Therefore, you should not make assumptions that everyone will see your innocence.
What you should do is take the charges seriously from the get-go. If you do this and then follow the right steps, you may reach some good results in the end.
Get an Attorney While You Are Still Only a Suspect
Intervening before charges is something to consider. If you get an attorney before the charges, then they may have the power to take measures so that you are not charged at all. Sometimes, lawyers end up talking to the prosecutor or police about your case. This way, they can offer them relevant information that will allow them to realize that you are not the guilty one.
Attorneys might even advise you to do nothing at the moment, waiting to see if the evidence will even be developed by the prosecutor to charge you. Perhaps there will be a witness who will support you and help prove your innocence. This way, no charges will be filed.
Talk to Witnesses and Gather Proof
Ensure that you make a list of witnesses. Even if all your hope is lost, maybe you will stumble upon someone who can offer some useful information regarding the victim, accusations, and the incident.
Furthermore, if you can, you should also gather some physical evidence. You could take photographs or gather clothing or different objects that could help you defend yourself. It’s essential to gather them as soon as you can. Once you do that, you should give them to your lawyer.
If there is documentation that could help you in any way, you should gather it as well. This may include emails, receipts, correspondence, GPS data, and similar things. They can prove where you were while the crime was taking place.
Consider a Plea Agreement
This doesn’t make sense when you’re innocent. But if you do have some criminal liability, a plea agreement can be a great deal. You won’t be able to determine your own criminal liability, so speak to an attorney and listen to them.
This is not the outcome you want, but sometimes, you might have to consider a plea bargain. This could help you get a lesser charge, which will prevent a permanent criminal record, harsh sentence, and conviction.
The lawyer will first have to investigate the evidence of the prosecutor and the crime. He/she will ask witnesses questions and, if possible, will even retain expert witnesses. After the attorney does this, you will be told whether a plea bargain is in your best interest or not.
When You’re Innocent Final Thoughts
Being accused of a crime you didn’t commit is unfair, and you’ll feel like your entire life is about to end due to this situation. But there are a few things you can do to prove your innocence, so follow the tips here and make sure you get good legal advice from a criminal defence attorney.
In some places, violent crime dropped from 8.2 incidents per 1,000 individuals to 7.8. People are often being charged for crimes– therefore, they have to look for a criminal defence lawyer or a lawyer from their particular area.
When you’re innocent (or even if you are not) speak to an attorney. They will be able to walk you through your options. You don’t want to go through a trial just to prove you are innocent. This would likely cost you tens of thousands of dollars.
And you would spend years of your life stressed out about hearing and the upcoming trial. Deal with your case properly from the first day that you come into contact with the police.