People make mistakes regularly or do not fully understand a law’s intention. Others could be traveling to a state that has far different laws in terms of cannabis/alcohol consumption. Small things can result in big consequences as getting a job with a recent misdemeanor conviction is not as easy as you would think. Staffing agencies and temp agencies might not even consider a candidate with a conviction within the last few years. Fighting charges is going to be imperative as the court system can be turned in your favor with the right decision-making. The following are things that you should know when you have been arrested and charges filed against you.
Don’t Speak With Anyone in Law Enforcement
If you are already arrested, do not speak anymore as this cannot help you. Most people think that they can change a police officer’s mind about arresting them and will be allowed to go home. Interrogations after arrests can last for hours if you do not ask to speak to legal representation. The job of the legal professionals on the case is to get a conviction so allow your attorney to guide you through this process. Law enforcement is allowed to lie to you about evidence so do not believe they have everything that they say they do as they could be bluffing. A confession is the best piece of evidence they can provide so do not confess under any circumstances without an attorney present.
Getting The Right Attorney
The right criminal defense attorney or immigration defense attorney can make all of the difference with how your case proceeds. Getting an attorney as early as possible will increase the chances of charges being dropped. The demand for discovery can allow your attorney to see everything that they have against you. There could be a lack of a case or reasonable cause for a search of a home or vehicle. Experienced attorneys in the area can have charges dropped or reduced in a plea deal.
Working with the same prosecutors and judges is important. The understanding that a certain judge sentences lightly for specific crimes is only something experienced attorneys in the area understand.
Stick To Your Probation Terms
The last thing you want to do is violate probation and serve actual jail time. Stick to the terms of your probation as you want to get out of the system. So many people go back to jail and stay in the system rather than following their probation. This means to stay away from drugs and alcohol as well as not engaging in illegal activities. Those that are on probation/parole do not have the same rights as others as they can be searched without probable cause in some cases.
Criminal charges being filed against you after an arrest can be a stressful situation. There is nothing more stressful than wondering whether your freedom will be impacted by a choice that has been made. Fighting charges is imperative as there are a number of other avenues that can be taken rather than the maximum punishment.
