If you are accused of a crime, the first thing that you should do is hire an attorney. You may think that this is not necessary if it seems like the charges are minor or incorrect, but in most cases, hiring legal counsel will be beneficial. There are many ways to protect your rights and minimize the negative impact of being charged with a crime on your life.
Check on the list below.
First, Understand Your Legal Rights
Different regions have different laws, so you should always try to find out what your legal rights are before saying anything. The police officers may not tell the whole truth and instead say only things that benefit them for a conviction or indictment against you. One of the first steps when being accused of a crime is trying to figure out exactly what happened; this way, you can determine whether or not they violated your rights. Knowing your legal rights is the first step in protecting them. Understand where you stand legally and what is happening next. Find an attorney that specializes in your type of case, which could include anything from drug crimes to domestic abuse charges. Ask for their advice on how best to protect yourself during these situations.
Get A Criminal Defense Lawyer
After receiving advice about your legal rights, the next step you should take is to hire a criminal defense lawyer. This will ensure that another person is reviewing your case and can help use their knowledge of laws to protect you from being wrongfully charged with a crime or using false information against you. With your Wichita legal team, you’ll be able to receive a fair trial and have your voice heard in the legal system. Don’t speak to any police or investigators without consulting with an attorney about what is appropriate and not incriminating. If possible, find an attorney who has experience in cases similar to yours. This will ensure that your legal professional can use the best defense strategies for you and see firsthand how much evidence there might be against you.
Gather Enough Evidence
In some cases, the only evidence that a crime has been committed is from eyewitnesses. In most other cases, there will be physical or circumstantial evidence that can help build up your defense case and prove you are innocent of the charges brought against you. If this is not possible with current information, then look for ways to gather more evidence. If there were no eyewitnesses and the only evidence is circumstantial, then it’s possible that your attorney can build a strong defense strategy around this. You should do an investigation as soon as possible after charges are brought against you to gather all of the necessary information for your case and prove your innocence. With new technology such as DNA testing, you can have a more solid defense strategy and prove that the evidence was not related to your case.
Intervene Before The Charges Are Filed
If you can intervene before charges are filed, your attorney may be able to prevent an indictment against you. This will require that they file a motion with the court to ask for more time and request any additional evidence needed to prove that there is insufficient information or proof of guilt in the case. If this is not possible, you should write a letter to the District Attorney’s Office explaining your innocence and asking them to drop all charges. Intervening before the charges are filed against you can help ensure a better outcome. If this is not possible, then file for discovery after charges are brought, and be sure to ask about your rights from the start to protect them at all costs.
Get Witnesses To Stand With You
If there are eyewitnesses to your case, be sure that you find out who they are and get them to stand with you. This can help prove that it was not just your word against the evidence or testimony of others. If possible, have these witnesses give their statements before charges were brought against you to provide more information about what happened. If the eyewitnesses refuse to stand with you, find out why they are not helping your case. Maybe they are afraid of the person you were accused of harming, or perhaps their story has changed since then. Your attorney can help you gather more information about this and see if there is a way to get them on board with your defense strategy to prove your innocence once and for all. You can do many things to protect your legal rights after being accused of a crime. Be sure to hire an attorney as soon as possible, look for ways to gather more evidence, intervene before the charges are filed, and get eyewitnesses on board with your defense strategy to avoid conviction or imprisonment.