Every crime committed is followed by some form of punishment or penalty. If you are someone facing any form of criminal charges or investigation, or you have been arrested and charged, your first thought is what steps to take next. You are often caught in a dilemma of whether to hire a criminal defense attorney or not. Most of the accused in a criminal investigation do not hire attorneys thinking that their money will go to waste if they are not charged with anything at the end of the investigation. However, this is a serious mistake. If you are in such a situation it is advisable to hire a criminal defense attorney as soon as possible. Want to know more? click here.
Situations where I should reach out to a criminal defense attorney:-
- When law enforcement wants to question you: If you have been a witness to a crime and the police call you for routine questioning, always ensure to hire a criminal defense attorney and take them with you. Do not visit the police for questioning without the presence of an attorney. There might be times that an inexperienced officer or some officer with a motive might try to put you as a prime suspect instead of a witness. To avoid such allegations, the presence of a criminal attorney will ensure your rights are protected.
- When law enforcement asks you to sign something: The police cannot force you to do anything unless they have a suspicion about you doing the crime. In such scenarios, if the police ask you to sign any papers or records that might give out sensitive information about you, do not do so without the presence of a criminal lawyer.
- Reduce the severity of charges filed: If you have been charged with a crime and arrested, the criminal attorney will try to negotiate with the district attorney about the filed charges and try to reduce your punishment. Such plea negotiations also depend on the severity of the charges.
- Help with arrests and bail: A criminal defense attorney can assist with your arrest and help the bail amount to be set to a lower value.
If you have landed in trouble with criminal charges, or you are suspecting that you are under investigation for a crime, you must hire a reputed criminal defense attorney immediately. They will guide you and protect you by reducing the impact of the investigation or by reducing the strict charges that can impact your life.