You may be concerned that hiring a criminal defense attorney makes it appear like you’ve committed a crime and are trying to find a way out of the consequences. That theory could not be further from the truth. Hiring an attorney when you’ve been accused of a crime is the only way to ensure that you are not manipulated, exploited, or punished unjustly. Keep reading to learn more about why hiring a criminal defense attorney is the smart choice when facing charges. 

You’ve Been Accused of a Crime

Being accused of a crime is one the most frightening, life-altering events that can take place in someone’s life. You’re scared, you don’t know who to trust or what to do, and the uncertainty of what comes next is formidable. Here are some steps you can take to alleviate the lack of certainty if you’ve been accused of a crime: 

Step One: Stay Silent 

You have the right to remain silent, and you should, following an accusation of committing a crime. Law enforcement officers and prosecutors can use anything you say against you in the courtroom. Until you’ve spoken with an attorney, your best chance at not being charged with a crime is to remain quiet. 

Step Two: Hire A Criminal Defense Attorney 

Hiring a criminal defense attorney is the natural, and intelligent, thing to do when you’ve been accused of a crime. A criminal defense attorney can assist in mitigating consequences and lessening the burden of the charges against you. Whether you are guilty or not of the charges against you, a criminal defense attorney is a must when facing criminal accusations. 

Step Three: Understand the Seriousness of the Situation 

Being accused of a crime is a big deal, and should be treated as such. You cannot go back in time or wish that this didn’t happen to you to escape reality; you must face the charge appropriately. One of the best ways to understand the seriousness of the situation is to become knowledgeable about the law you’re being accused of breaking and to ask questions of your experienced criminal defense attorney.  

The Truth Behind Legal Representation

Hiring a criminal defense attorney if you are facing criminal charges is essential. A criminal defense attorney can ensure that you haven’t been wrongfully accused and that the charges against you have proper evidence to accompany them. An experienced, knowledgeable criminal defense attorney is your only safety net when facing criminal charges. 

Enlisting the expertise of a criminal defense attorney is not an admission of guilt. In fact, appearing with proper representation to the courtroom gives the appearance that you are taking the charges seriously and are organized and prepared with a defense. There are a number of benefits to hiring a criminal defense attorney, including: 

• Knowledge and Experience in the Criminal Justice System: The legal system can be confusing, even for the people who work within it, but an experienced defense attorney knows the ins and outs of the court system and can walk you through them. 

• Trusted Relationships with Court Personnel: Criminal defense attorneys and their counterparts–prosecutors–work with each other a lot. Although they are on different sides of the courtroom, they both know that working together cooperatively is the best course of action. 

Trusted relationships between your criminal defense attorney and the prosecutor may help you reach a more favorable plea deal or result in more favorable negotiations. 

• Saving You Money: Yes, criminal defense attorney’s cost money for their expertise. However, in the long run they can end up saving you a lot of money, your job, your professional license, and many of the things you’ve worked hard to accumulate. 

• Providing a Support System and the Truth about Possible Outcomes: A reliable criminal defense attorney will explain all of the possible outcomes of the charges against you. They will not only tell you what you want to hear, they will give you the truth of what could happen in your specific case. 

Any good criminal defense attorney will also act as a support system throughout the legal process. They should answer all of your questions, and explain the details of the court proceedings before you are sitting in the courtroom. Making time for you and seeing to it that you are comfortable with the process is important. 

Hiring a criminal defense attorney should not be looked at as an admission of guilt, it should be observed as a protection of your rights. Without an attorney representing you, you’re at the mercy of the criminal justice system. Having someone on your side who knows how to navigate that system is imperative to receiving a fair chance of defending yourself. 

The Law Offices of Robert J. DeGroot 

The Law Offices of Robert J. DeGroot has the experience and knowledge to handle complex criminal cases, as well as misdemeanor and federal crime cases. We have been providing clients in the greater Newark area with an aggressive defense against criminal charges since 1972. With over four decades of experience, you can rely on us to limit your exposure to the consequences of damaging criminal charges.

Are you or someone you know facing criminal charges? Reach out to the experienced criminal defense team at the Law Offices of Robert J. DeGroot for advice on how to defend the charges against you!