What You Should Do When You Are Accused of A Crime in Another Country?
If you committed a crime or you’re being accused of a crime in another country, the experience can be frightening. Foreign laws are different, which is why it is a good idea to familiarize yourself with the laws of any country you’re visiting. But if for one reason or the other you find yourself in legal trouble, it’s a good idea to know how to handle yourself. So, in this guide, we will be talking about what you should do if you find yourself in legal trouble abroad.
Hire a Criminal Lawyer
One of the first things you want to do when you are faced with a criminal charge outside your home country is to hire a criminal lawyer. Finding an Austin criminal defense lawyer present abroad, you can be certain of being in trusted hands. Legal proceedings can be very complex, especially in foreign countries, hence the importance of having a lawyer you trust.
Hiring a lawyer will ensure your rights don’t get breached especially because they understand the intricacies of the law. If you choose to represent yourself when a criminal allegation is made against you, things can quickly turn against you if you are inexperienced in legal matters. So, your best bet for getting out of the situation is to have a lawyer represent and advise you.
Understand Your Rights
The area where many people get it wrong when they are accused of a crime abroad is that they believe they don’t have rights anymore. Even though you are not a citizen of the country, you still have rights. Knowing your rights is vital, especially in helping you to not implicate yourself even further.
For instance, as an English speaker, if you are accused of a crime in a non-English speaking country, you have the right to an interpreter during the questioning. Also, you must be presented with a written translation of essential documents. You also have the right to information about the criminal act you are accused of. This information can be given orally or in writing.
Importantly, in a criminal proceeding, you have the right to be advised by a lawyer present. In most countries, you have the right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Find Your Way to the Nearest Embassy
If you committed a crime and feel unsafe going to report it alone, you can always stop by the nearest embassy to make your confession. At the embassy, you will be advised on the best course of action to take to resolve the issue. In most cases, an advocate will accompany you to make a formal statement.
Depending on the severity of the crime, be it a car crash, assault, and so on, the embassy will ensure that you will be treated no worse than a local person in the same situation. In some cases, you could be extradited to your home country. The extradition process in the United States is quite different as it has agreements with over 100 countries each having its legal grounds for extradition.
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