Being arrested and charged with a crime can be a traumatic experience for most people. After all, not many people have contact with law enforcement and the judicial system on a regular basis, so when these types of encounters do occur people may be nervous, anxious and generally unprepared for how to act. But, as long as arrestees can keep their wits about them during their interaction with law enforcement, they may be able to reach a positive resolution.
For instance, when law enforcement officials are investigating a crime, they ask a lot of questions. For an arrestee, or even someone who is simply under investigation, it is important to consider how much they should speak with the police. Many of our readers have probably heard the phrase “You have the right to remain silent.” This isn’t just a made-up line from television shows and movies. Criminal defendants truly do have the right not to talk with law enforcement officials. In most cases, even if a defendant does want to talk with police officers, it is probably best to have an attorney present.
In the aftermath of an arrest and the filing of criminal charges, a defendant will want to be sure to review all of the information about the case and the evidence that the prosecution will attempt to use to prove the defendant’s guilt in the case beyond a reasonable doubt. Oftentimes, evidence is seized or obtained by means that violate a criminal defendant’s constitutional rights. If that is the case, that evidence may be suppressed.
At our law firm, we do our best to make sure that our clients know their options in the aftermath of an arrest. Making the right choice about what to do next can be crucial to an individual’s future. For more information about how our law firm might be able to help with your criminal case, please visit the criminal defense overview section of our website.