ARRESTED OR INCARCERATED, NOW WHAT?
Do not waste valuable time that could be spent either preventing criminal charges from being filed or to prepare for your defense.
If you are in-custody or received a late night call from a loved one in jail, call me and I can walk you through the process of what is likely to happen, and help you to get in touch with a bail bonds company if necessary.
Do not speak to anyone about the circumstances of your arrest or case, other than your attorney. Anything you say, especially to law enforcement or investigators that is incriminating, will be used against you. Even if you were arrested with a group of your friends and you trust them, please do not talk to anyone other than your attorney.
Going to Court
If you are charged with a misdemeanor, in most cases, your attorney can make your court appearances on your behalf. This means, if you give your attorney authority to do so, you don’t have to waste your time going to court. If you hired the right attorney, they should keep you informed in your case and give you updates after every court appearance.
If you are charged with a felony, you will be required to appear at all your court appearances with your attorney.
Hiring the right attorney, can make all the difference in the final resolution of your case and will also determine how pleasant or unpleasant the whole frightening process can be.
HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR ATTORNEY
Being arrested is traumatic and the entire criminal process is very complex. There will be a period of time, where you may receive what is called “jail mail,” solicitation flyers for legal services. There are so many to choose from. it’s confusing and overwhelming. You want the the best representation. Below are some tips on how to choose your attorney.
Get A Free Consultation, Ask Questions and Be Honest
Don’t be afraid to call and ask a lot of questions. You want to find an attorney who makes you feel comfortable and will take the time to answer all your questions and concerns. I understand it maybe scary and difficult to share embarrassing details about yourself and the circumstances regarding your arrest. I have handled all types of cases from simple petty theft cases to serious felonies. During my 22 years of practice, I’ve heard it all. I am not here to judge, I want to help you. The more honest with me you are about all the details of your case, it will help me to more effectively represent you and protect your rights.
What Experience Does Your Attorney Have?
Find out about their experience as a criminal defense attorney. I’m not just talking about the number of years they have been in the practice of law. Just because you’ve been doing something a long time, it doesn’t necessarily mean you are good at it. Make sure your attorney has the actual experience, the background and training in handling the specific type of case you are facing.
Who Will Be Fighting Your Case?
Make sure you are hiring the attorney who will actually be working up your case and going to court for you. It’s not uncommon in firms to have someone who appears to be very experienced to be sold on a website, only to find out that, that person is not the attorney who is actually going to be fighting your case. You’ve paid them a non-refundable deposit, only to later find that they will send a less experienced associate to court on your behalf.
Is Your Attorney Honest With You?
Most importantly, find someone you can trust. This means your attorney should be responsive and take the time to look at every possible way of defending your case. This includes taking the time to respond to your concerns and answer your questions. Your attorney should not tell you what you want to hear, to make you feel better, but will be honest. Sometimes that means, you may not like what is said. If it were me in your shoes or one of my loved ones, I would want to know what I was facing and have someone tell me the good and the bad every step of the way.
Does Your Attorney Have Trial Experience?
Make sure your attorney has trial experience. Most cases do not go to trial. However, at the outset, you will not have enough information to know if you will need to go to trial. You want to be sure your attorney has the experience and is not afraid to take your case all the way through trial if necessary. You want someone who is passionate and will zealously fight for you, sometimes that requires going to trial.
