There is a chance that you might think that you know everything about the criminal justice system by binge-watching a couple of thriller show shows. The reality is far different from what you see on TV and you might come to learn the hard way when you or a loved one has been arrested. The goal is to avoid being arrested but sometimes bad things happen to good people. Just because you’ve spent a night behind bars doesn’t make you a criminal. The onus will be on the prosecution to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that you’re guilty of the offense that you’ve been accused of. Here are some tips that will come in handy if you’ve been arrested.
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Do Not Talk To The Police
The arresting officer might appear friendly but all they’ll be doing is to look for the admittance of guilt. Whatever you say could be used against you in a court of law. Even if you’d want to share your side of the story, you might find yourself saying something incriminating without knowing. If it is a criminal offense, you should be reaching out to a law firm like Summit Defense to help with the legal representation. It should be noted that a police question has the right to ask questions at any given time. It doesn’t matter if you’ve been arrested or not. You’re under no obligation to answer the questions from the arresting officer.
Don’t Consent to Search
This mostly applies when you’ve been stopped over by a traffic officer. In the event that a police officer is asking if they can search for something, it means that they don’t have permission to do so. They might appear intimidating when asking for permission but you shouldn’t feel threatened because they’re supposed to produce a search warrant before they go through your property.
Do Not Run
Running or fighting the arresting office will only make things worse for your case. You’ll be charged with a separate crime when you attempt to assault the police officer. When you put your hands on the police officer, you could end up being injured, and with extra charges. It is important that you’re remaining calm when you’ve been arrested. Reach out to an attorney the moment you get an opportunity to do so.
Never Talk About Your Case
When you’re being held up in a cell, everyone could be a potential witness. The only person you should be talking about the case is your attorney. You should also avoid social media as there is no right to privacy once you put anything up on the platforms.
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Stay Calm
It can be a confusing time when you’ve been arrested. The fact that you’re behind bars is scary and you’ll try everything possible to get out. Depending on the severity of the offense, the court will set the bail amount which you’ll be required to pay in order to secure your release. Your attorney can help negotiate the bail amount so that is easy to get out of jail.
Cooperate
Just because you’re cooperating with the authorities doesn’t mean that you’re letting them know everything about your case. The arresting officer might even recommend a bail bonds company if you cooperate when you’ve been arrested. The police will ask you basic questions which you’re supposed to answer truthfully. Such questions will include name, residential details, and if you have any health complications. You’ll most likely be released a lot quicker if you cooperate with authorities.
Document The Case
The first thing you’ll need to do as soon as you get out is to document the case. All the evidence will be required so as to come up with a formidable defense. The details of the arrest will need to be well documented. If you sustained any injuries, make sure that you’re taking photos.
Get an Experienced Attorney
There is a lot that goes on with a criminal case. A small mistake could have devastating effects. That is why it is imperative that you’re getting in touch with an experienced criminal defense attorney who will ensure that you’re getting the best legal representation for your case.
When searching for such an attorney, you’ll want to find out the number of years that they’ve been practicing. It will also be a good idea to reach out to the references provided and ask them about their experience working with the personal injury attorney. Staying calm when you’ve been arrested will save you a lot of trouble.
