If you’re like most people, you probably don’t have much or any experience with being arrested, so you may not know what steps you should take if you ever find yourself in this precarious position. If you’re not careful, you can make some mistakes that can seriously affect the outcome of your case or your life in the wake of a conviction. With that in mind, we wanted to share five mistakes that people sometimes make after an arrest.
Don’t Make These Mistakes After An Arrest
Any of these mistakes can make it much harder to earn a favorable outcome, so work to avoid these potential pitfalls:
1. Oversharing Details To Police – You’re not going to be able to talk your way out of an arrest, and anything you say can and will be used against you in the court of law. You may think it’s helping your case, but odds are you’re only giving police more evidence to use against you. Once you’ve provided them with your name and other basic information, keep your mouth shut.
2. Not Taking It Seriously – If you don’t take the situation seriously, you can make things a whole lot harder on yourself. For example, if you continue to drive after your license is suspended or you end up in more trouble before your case is resolved, the judge isn’t going to go easy on you. You might not think it’s a big deal, but you need to treat your situation like it matters. Blowing off court dates or another run in police will only make things worse.
3. Not Hiring A Lawyer – You might think that you can go it alone and defend yourself, but the state will have professional attorneys making their case against you. Odds are slim that you’re going to be able to make a better argument than someone who argues in court for a living, even if the evidence is on your side. The single best thing you can do to earn a favorable outcome following an arrest is to connect with a criminal defense lawyer.
4. Going With The Cheapest Lawyer – You know that you need to hire a lawyer, but you also need to be smart about who you choose. If you’re solely picking your lawyer based on price, odds are you aren’t going to be satisfied with the outcome of your case. A good lawyer will cost money, but oftentimes they can save you money in the long run by helping you beat the charges or avoid other pricey penalties. Don’t choose your lawyer based on price alone. Take a free consultation with the firm and see if they would be a good fit for your situation.
5. Jumping At The First Offer – A plea deal can be a great option that helps you avoid a worst case scenario, but don’t assume that you have no say in the situation. You can certainly counter a plea deal or put together a deal of your own if you don’t like the terms of the first deal. Many prosecutors hope you’ll just take the first deal to put the case behind you, and rarely will they offer the best deal out of the gates. They want the case cleared from their caseload too, so don’t be afraid to negotiate and find a more favorable middle ground.
If you need help with any aspect of your criminal case, reach out to Avery and the team at Appelman Law Firm today at (952) 224-2277.
