What Should You Do If You Are Being Investigated By The Police?
If the police are investigating you, it does not automatically mean you will be found guilty and sentenced. However, to increase your chances of not being found guilty and sentenced, you must take the matter seriously and take several steps. It is easy to become overwhelmed during a criminal investigation. But regardless of how stressful the situation is, it is vital that you do your best to ensure things go smoothly.
If you are being investigated by the police, you may be wondering what steps you should take to ensure things go smoothly. The following are some of the steps to take if the police are investigating you;
Step #1: Stay Calm
You might think that yelling at the police will help you get your point across, but the truth is that yelling at the police will not help your case. If you yell at the police, you will most likely only give them more reasons to suspect you.
Step #2: Exercise Your Rights
As a criminal suspect, you are entitled to certain rights. You have the right to remain silent. You also have the right to have an attorney present during questioning.
It is crucial that you invoke your right to remain silent. It is crucial that you do not speak to the police or answer police questions without a defense attorney present. You may believe that speaking to the police will help you prove your innocence, but the truth is that the things you tell the police in the absence of an attorney can come back to haunt you later. During interrogations, the police may use tactics to set you up for conviction. Police have been trained to elicit statements that can seriously damage your ability to defend your case.
In regards to your right to have an attorney present during questioning, you have this right even if you cannot afford to pay for an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, the state is required to provide a public defender for you.
The following are some of the other rights you have as a criminal suspect that you should be aware of;
- The right to know about the date and time of all hearings
- The right to know the charges you are facing
- The right to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures
- The right to an attorney during your trial
- The right to have the state prove your guilt beyond a reasonable doubt
What To Look for in a Criminal Defense Attorney?
It is important that you have the right attorney by your side if you are under investigation. To ensure you hire the right criminal defense attorney, the following are some of the things to consider;
- Qualifications: The right attorney will have completed law school. The right attorney specializes in criminal defense and is an expert in criminal procedure.
- Experience: The right attorney has experience defending criminal suspects.
- Success rate: The right attorney has an impressive track record and verifiable success.
- Strong negotiation skills: It is important that you hire an attorney who knows how to negotiate with the police, prosecutors, and judges.
- Great communication: The right lawyer is the one who can explain things to you in a manner you can understand.
Contact an NYC Criminal Defense Attorney
If you are being investigated by the police and need the help of an experienced criminal defense attorney, contact our NYC criminal attorney, Mark I. Cohen, Esq.
