If you are caught in the wrong side of the law in Passaic and face criminal charges against you, it can be a scary experience for you and your family. It is normal to lose your ability to think and act. However, please remember that one wrong statement or one wrong move can completely jeopardize your life.
It is important for you to know your constitutional right when you are investigated. Regardless of whether you are guilty not, there are certain rights that you can invoke immediately until you get a Passaic criminal lawyer to guide you. In this article, we have covered a few points to give you a preliminary idea on what you should do when you are investigated.
First things first. When the police officers knock at your door and demand to search your house or ask questions, you must simply say ‘I need a lawyer’. No matter what they ask you, don’t be tempted to reply thinking that your silence may go against you. It is your constitutional right to stay quiet until you have your lawyer by your side. So make sure you do not get involved in any further conversation.
Many people believe that they can prove their innocence by talking to the legal authorities themselves, without the need of a criminal lawyer. This is where they go wrong. Unfortunately, speaking to the police when you have charges against you or allowing them to search your home can be your biggest mistake. Remember that they cannot search your house without your permission unless they have a warrant.
During an investigation, the trained officers will ask your tricky question and create situations to compel you to speak up. They will try every possible strategy to convince you that the best way to save yourself from jail time is to answer their questions and cooperate with them.
You may be a novice in terms of legal matters and have no knowledge on how to handle the questions tactfully. It may be difficult to find out if the police officer is making real promises or just trying to make you say something. You should not fall into the trap and stay silent until an attorney tells you what to do.
How can a Passaic criminal lawyer help you?
For the criminal lawyer, this is something he does every day so he knows how to handle the situation in the best possible way without making it worse. To be on the safe side, make sure you hire an attorney who has years of experience in handling criminal cases, especially the category in which you are facing charges.
Before hiring a lawyer, you or someone on your behalf must do a quick search to ensure that he has the qualification and experience to handle your case. A lawyer who has handled several cases of similar nature will be able to safeguard your rights and negotiate on the penalties.
Make sure you read the customer reviews to see what previous clients have to say about the lawyer. You must also discuss about the lawyer fees (hourly or flat rate) and inquire if there will be any extra charges involved.
When you are facing serious criminal charges, we would suggest that you don’t settle for a cheap inexperienced lawyer because this can cost you several thousand dollars in the long run. Hiring an experienced Passaic criminal lawyer may mean you will have to pay high fees but the case will be resolved faster and you will have to pay less penalty.