The Dos and Don'ts of Dealing with a Criminal Charge
Circumstances are unpredictable and sometimes we are not able to avoid the situations we find ourselves in, but we have the ability to prepare for potential situations that may happen to us and get out of them in the best possible way. We have prepared for you a list of tips on what to do and what not to do during a criminal prosecution, which can help you significantly in such situations.
Get a lawyer
The criminal prosecution procedure is very complex and difficult and requires a lot of effort in order to resolve it as soon as possible. Extensive documentation, court filing, and evidence collection are just some of the things that require a lot of time and knowledge to be done in the best possible way, and a lawyer can handle these things for us and guide us throughout the entire process. The consequences of not knowing the law are enormous, and mistakes in this kind of procedure cannot be tolerated, so it is best to have help in such situations. It would be ideal to hire a criminal defense lawyer in Denver or any other place who has a lot of experience in these types of cases. The lawyer will properly represent you before the court and will make sure that you win the case because it is in his interest as well.
Obey the law
In the moments when we hear accusations against us, we can react very violently. Expressing anger at officials is a serious offense, and it can lead to even greater consequences for us. Therefore, it would be best if we respected the procedure and familiarized ourselves with it before we found ourselves in such a situation. When a criminal suspension is filed by the prosecutor's office, there is a high probability that an arrest will follow, and that can be a very difficult moment for us. Verbal abuse directed at police officers will be recorded, and we will be responsible for it, while the use of force may lead to the use of force by police officers. Culturally fine and calm behavior is very important for our own sake because it will help us feel more relaxed and think about the next steps.
Don't say anything
Your legally guaranteed right is not to say anything without the presence of your lawyer. This right was enacted because everything we say can be brought against us in court. When under stress, people often know how to make false and wrong statements and self-incriminate themselves; also, from the police and inspectors, we can experience pressure, so that in order to solve it as soon as possible, people make false statements and create huge problems for themselves. The lawyer will familiarize us with all the procedures that await us and the existing legal ones, and we can be honest with him because he will work in our interest.
Don't make your case public
Try not to discuss your case in the media and on social networks while the process is ongoing. This can make it difficult for your lawyer to present a solid defense because a lot of complications will arise. The jury can informally follow your case on social networks and make a wrong decision that is not in your favor. When the case starts to spread on social networks, speculations and false headlines also start to spread, with negative conditions for you. Your innocence should be proven in court, not on social media.
Don't manipulate evidence
Destroying evidence that is needed in the investigative process is a serious criminal offense that automatically casts doubt on us. Most people hide and destroy evidence out of fear that officials will think something is wrong. We must be aware that even the inspectors know that things are not what they seem and that they will try to investigate the case as deeply as possible.
Gather evidence
The evidence that you are innocent is the key thing in the entire investigative process, which will defend you in the best way in court. Try to have an alibi if you are accused of doing something at a certain time; try to prove your innocence that you weren't there if you really weren't there. Collect footage of where you were at that moment and what you were doing. If you happen to be at the scene of an accident, immediately turn on your mobile phone camera to record everything you do so that others do not accuse you of something else. If it is a financial transaction, collect as many documents as possible, even those that may seem unimportant, which may actually hide important information that can help you defend yourself in court.
Don't run away
Fear and paranoia make us do things that are not smart for us. During the investigative procedure, there is a possibility that we will be released from detention and that we will be free to await the trial. Due to uncertainty about the outcome of the trial, people consider running away as a positive option, but they don't realize that it actually only worsens the whole situation. This is an indication to the court that our alibi is not correct, and suspicion is growing more and more. Leaving the country can also cause big problems, so let's not think about leaving our country during the court proceedings. We are probably already on the list, and with the help of the customs officials, they will immediately recognize us. We cannot escape from the law, so it is essential that we participate in the entire investigative process and contribute to it in order to prove our innocence.
The experiences we learn in court and during the investigative process are important, very important because we can apply the knowledge we learn in other segments of life, as the whole of life is basically a fight for justice. We hope that these recommendations and warnings were helpful to you, that they will properly prepare you for the entire procedure, and that you will emerge victorious from it.