If the police arrest you — whether or not you’re guilty — you’ll need a criminal defense lawyer.
It’s a scary scenario no one wants to envision — let alone experience first-hand. But the unthinkable can sometimes become a real-life situation you can’t hide from or ignore. If life throws you a curve ball, you’ll want to know how to deal with this harrowing problem.
There were north of 7.36 million arrests for all offenses across the country in 2022. If you’re pulled over and arrested or find yourself in handcuffs after the police go to your home or workplace, you’ll become a statistic in a way no one wishes to be. You’ll need legal help.
Here are three scenarios when you’ll need to call a criminal defense lawyer.
- You’ve Been Arrested
If the police place you under arrest, put handcuffs on your wrists, load you into the back of a police car, and transport you to a police station, you’ll need to speak to a lawyer. The police will want to interrogate you, but it’s unwise to agree to an interrogation without legal counsel. While you must identify yourself when the police ask, you should retain a lawyer before answering any questions about the criminal charges. Exercise your right to stay silent and ask for a lawyer.
You need a lawyer in the interrogation room to ensure you don’t dig yourself a legal hole. The police know how to ask the right questions. Even if you’re innocent, you might say something incriminating. That’s one reason you need to retain a lawyer before answering questions.
- Your Legal Knowledge Is Slim to None
Another time to contact a criminal defense attorney is if you’re facing criminal charges and want to understand what you’re up against. Criminal law is complicated. You can’t rely on everything you find online. Some of it is accurate. But some of it ranges from misleading to erroneous.
If you’re facing severe consequences in a criminal court, you’ll want to speak to a criminal defense attorney with experience and experience in criminal law. You need to know what the penalties are, what legal options are the best for your situation, and the odds of your getting an outcome you can live with.
Picking the brain of a legal professional is the best way to get the information you need to make an informed decision. Remember that the stakes are high. You could face jail time, fines, or a combination of the two. So, you need a criminal defense attorney who can help you.
- You Didn’t Do What You Did Intentionally
Another reason to contact a criminal defense lawyer is if your actions were not purposeful. Sometimes missteps happen. Your lawyer’s job is to provide enough evidence and be persuasive enough to convince a judge or jury to believe that the supposed crime was not intentional.
You need a lawyer to dig deep to unearth the facts, speak to expert witnesses, and show that you didn’t act maliciously. That’s why you must hire a criminal defense lawyer specializing in criminal law. Such a legal professional has lots of courtroom experience.
Your lawyer will also prepare you for cross-examination since the prosecutor won’t be there to do you any favors. A good criminal defense lawyer will prepare you to perform well under pressure, answer questions clearly, and boost the odds of getting a favorable decision.
These are some situations where retaining a criminal defense lawyer is a must. Don’t try to go it alone. Do some research to find the best option for your situation to get the justice you want.
