Misconceptions About Being Criminally Charged
Being charged with a criminal offense is a jarring experience, even if you are totally innocent—or perhaps especially if you are totally innocent. Friends and family may tell you not to worry—the truth will come out in the end. But you’d be wise to ignore that counsel, because innocent people are convicted of crimes they had nothing to do with every day. What you need more than anything at this point is a tough, no-nonsense criminal defense attorney fighting on your behalf.
Don’t Believe It!
The police are legally allowed to mislead—or lie—to you in order to get information out of you. So just because they tell you something, don’t count on it. Additionally, television may have left you with some misconceptions. For example:
- Miranda Rights are not all they’re cracked up to be. If you are not read your Miranda Rights before being interrogated, the Supreme Court does not consider it a violation of a constitutional right. Instead, it violates a constitutional rule, meaning you can never collect damages for violations.
- Police may tell you that things will go well for you if you’ll just cooperate, but that isn’t necessarily true. Don’t say a word without your attorney present, because whatever you say could be twisted out of context and used against you later.
- It’s possible you’ll be told that there is clear evidence and/or testimony implicating your guilt– but police could be totally making that up!
- You may be told that if you’ll just confess, things will go easier for you. Again, never make a verbal or written confession without the advice of your attorney. Who knows how binding any deal the police offer you will be?
- You may be told that if you just cooperate, you’ll be home in no time. Nope, that’s not necessarily the case. Unlike the fast-paced cases that occur every week on your favorite crime-drama tv show, once enmeshed in a criminal case, it could be a very long time before you’re in the clear.
- After charges are filed, you may think that they can be quickly and easily dropped, but the fact is the whole thing must go through a court process, which can take time.
- You may think that since you’re innocent, going to trial is your best bet no matter what. The truth is, there will be costs in money, time, stress, and worry, and after all that, you still may be found guilty. Sometimes a plea deal is a good option, so listen to your attorney before making any decisions.
The Defense You Deserve
The dedicated Las Vegas criminal defense attorneys at Lobo Law always go to bat for you in an effort to achieve the best possible outcomes. To discuss your situation, schedule a confidential consultation in our Las Vegas office today.
Source:
aclu.org/news/civil-liberties/supreme-court-rejects-promise-miranda-rights
