When you’re arrested on suspicion of criminal activity, the next moves you make are very important. This is a stressful time, and you’ll likely be feeling a wide range of emotions, but you need to keep a cool head to avoid making the situation worse for yourself. In these sort of high-pressure situations, it’s best to have a few simple things you can focus on to avoid being overwhelmed. Here are the three things you should focus on first after being arrested.
Say Nothing
This is as simple as it gets, but so many people still manage to screw it up because they feel like they’re the exception to the rule about talking to the police. When you’re suspected of a crime, telling your story to the police is of no benefit to you. Contrary to what they may tell you, the police aren’t your friends, and they aren’t going to help you because you talk to them. They’re only looking for evidence to use against you. If they try to question you, tell them you won’t talk without the presence of a lawyer.
Get out of Jail
Being in a jail cell isn’t pleasant. It’s typically either too cold or too hot, there are other people who have been arrested there and just one toilet for all of you to use. It can quickly wear you down, and that’s why you should try to post bail as soon as possible and get out. Bail is often too expensive for people to pay on their own, but you can contact a bail bonds company like Rader Bonding Co or have your family do so for you. The bail bonds company can help you get out until you’re tried in court.
Talk to a Lawyer
Unless you get very lucky, your criminal charges won’t just go away. You need to be proactive about your defense, and that means you need to talk to a lawyer about what to do. Your best bet is to hire a skilled defense attorney yourself. It will cost you, but there’s a huge difference between what you get when you hire an attorney compared to sticking with a court-appointed defense attorney.
Don’t make an arrest even worse for yourself. Stay silent if the police ask you anything, get yourself out of jail the moment you can post bail and consult with a lawyer to figure out your defense.
This article is from Brooke Chaplan, a freelance writer, and blogger. She lives and works out of her home in Los Lunas, New Mexico. She loves the outdoors and spends most her time hiking, biking and gardening. For more information contact Brooke via Twitter @BrookeChaplan.
