Your life can feel like a mess after an arrest. It’s very possible that you family life, your work life and your social relationships could all be affected by your arrest, and that can leave you feeling anxious or worried. And while it won’t always be easy, we know that if you take some specific steps after your arrest, you can come out the other side a stronger person. In today’s blog, we share some tips for picking up the pieces of your life after an arrest.
Moving On After A Criminal Arrest
Some crimes are more serious than others, so this is in no way a perfect play playbook for moving forward in the wake of an arrest. However, these tips are oftentimes a good starting point for anyone looking to better themselves after a mistake. Here’s what you’ll want to do:
1. Contact A Lawyer – One of the first things you’ll want to do after an arrest is to connect with a lawyer. Many criminal defense attorneys offer free initial case review sessions where you can sit down with an attorney, review the facts of the case and decide on some paths forward, all without charge. This helps you understand what you’re up against and some of the logical next steps to take. If you’d like to set up one of those consultations, give the team at Appelman Law Firm a call today at (952) 224-2277.
2. Own It – Don’t try to hide the arrest from your spouse or anyone that you are very close with. We know that they might be a little angry or upset at first, but if they truly care about you, you’ll want their support. Trying to keep something like an arrest a secret from a spouse or partner can lead to trust issues and weigh heavy on your conscience. Sit them down and have an open conversation about what happened, and we promise you’ll feel a sense of relief when the dust settles.
3. Take Steps To Put The Mistake In The Past – Next, talk with your lawyer and see if there is anything you can do to help put yourself in a position so that the same mistake doesn’t happen again. For example, you can attend an alcohol or substance abuse course to show that you take the charges seriously and you want to get the help you need to avoid problems in the future. Not only will this help you, but courts oftentimes look favorably on individuals who seek out counseling or addiction services prior to it becoming a mandatory part of sentencing. Don’t view these classes or educational courses as an admission of guilt, see them as a resource.
4. Plan For All Outcomes, But Try To Avoid The Worst – As your court date approaches, start to plan for all possible trial outcomes. If you stand to lose your driver’s license, your professional license or spend time in jail, start to think about what the next steps would look like in the event these things happen. If you really want to avoid a certain outcome, talk with your lawyer about the possibility of a plea deal that sees you negotiate a resolution that avoids a worst case scenario.
5. Control What You Can Control – Finally, we oftentimes tell our clients before they leave our office that we need them to control what they can control in the coming days and weeks. What we mean by this is that we know the court process can be overwhelming, but if you understand that some aspects are out of your control, you’ll find that you have less anxiety about the situation. Conversely, if you handle the aspects of your case that you can control, you’ll be more likely to have a positive outcome. Go to substance abuse counseling, show up for all your court appearances and stay out of trouble while your case is playing out. Take a deep breath and focus on the controllable aspects of your case as it plays out.
If you do all of these things, we’re confident you’ll come out of this situation stronger. For help with a criminal matter, or to set up a free case review, give the team at Appelman Law Firm a call today at (952) 224-2277.
