Protect Yourself by Hiring a Criminal Defense Attorney

A criminal defense attorney will know what you should do and what action to take if you have been arrested. Before the time comes to hire a defense lawyer however you have to cope with all that is involved with being accused of a crime in the first place. It can be frightening and downright terrifying to comprehend.

From the very moment that the police suspect that you have done something that is against the law you need to do what is necessary to protect the rights you have under the constitution. Whether you are innocent of the alleged crime or guilty both the law enforcement agents as well as the district attorney will do everything in their power to make sure that you are convicted. The criminal defense attorney you hire will do the opposite and work to have you found not guilty of the charges.

Both the police and the prosecuting attorney have a tendency to be suspicious and lean towards the assumption that those charged with crimes are guilty from the very beginning. From the start they will believe that all of the facts that come to their attention point to the guilt of the accused. This is unfortunate for those accused of a crime but it is worthwhile to know which is why doing everything you can to protect yourself from further problems is so important.

If you have been charged with a crime or if the police are looking at you as a person of interest in a case they are working on then the absolute wisest decision you could make is to find a criminal defense attorney who will be on your side of the legal fence. A defense lawyer will listen to everything you have to tell him and then will begin work immediately to research and investigate the charges that are against you.

It is strongly recommended that you do not speak with any members of law enforcement until you have hired a criminal defense attorney and he can be present with you during the interrogation. Even if the police tell you that that they just want to chat with you casually you should have a lawyer present. You do not want to say anything to incriminate yourself.

The lawyer you retain will instruct you as to what you should say when you sit down and talk with the police and what you should not say. You do not want to divulge any details that could make you look guilty. You should never willingly offer any information to the police. Wait until your defense lawyer arrives and then you can talk amongst yourselves and from there it can be decided what information will be provided to the police.

When the police want to talk with you do need to provide your name and prove your identity by showing identification. You do not however have to answer any of their questions regarding the crime you are being accused of or charged with. Ask to have a criminal defense attorney present first. This cannot be emphasized enough! You must keep your wits about you when dealing with law enforcement.