When you are arrested or charged with a criminal offense, it is imperative that you contact a lawyer as soon as possible. Depending on the seriousness of the crime and your past history, you may be able to get a public defender that is paid for by the state. But public defenders are often overloaded and can’t provide the same level of defense as a lawyer you hire yourself. Here are some signs that hiring a criminal defense attorney is necessary for your case.
You’ve been charged with a serious crime
If you have been charged with a serious crime, then a criminal defense attorney is a must. The seriousness of the crime will determine how your lawyer can best defend you in court. However, it is generally advisable to hire a lawyer when you have been arrested or charged with any type of felony or misdemeanor due to the serious consequences that could arise from not having legal representation.
The severity of the charge will also determine whether or not bail will be set and how long you’ll have to wait before going to trial. This is because more serious crimes have higher bail amounts and take longer for a trial date to be set. If either of these things happens, then hiring a criminal defense attorney will help ensure that your rights are upheld and that your interests are looked after during this time.
Police keep showing up at work or home
If the police keep showing up at your home or work because you are accused of committing a crime, then it is time to contact a criminal defense attorney. Showing up once at your home or work may mean nothing – if a crime was committed nearby, they may simply be looking for witnesses or more information.
But if they keep showing up, or if they start asking pointed questions, it’s likely they suspect you of a crime. Showing up at your workplace, in particular, is meant to throw you off guard and alert other people that you are being investigated.
You’re guilty
No matter what you are accused of, if you are guilty of the offense, then it is almost always in your best interest to hire a criminal defense attorney. This is because they can help you with plea bargaining and sentencing. A criminal defense lawyer will also be able to look over any statements you made in court and use that information to discredit the opposing counsel’s arguments.
If you want to avoid any type of sentence, then it is imperative that you hire a criminal defense attorney as soon as possible after being arrested or charged. Even if you feel like there’s nothing to hide, an experienced lawyer will be able to help guide your decision-making process when it comes to plea bargaining and negotiating a reduced sentence.
You’re innocent
If you are innocent of the crime, then you should hire a criminal defense attorney to help you prove your innocence.
If you are innocent but feel like the prosecution has a strong case against you, it’s important for you to talk to a lawyer. They may be able to come up with a defense strategy that could help your case.
Routine questioning is becoming intrusive
If you are being randomly questioned by the police, it is important to know your rights. Again, a few questions once could be because they’re trying to find witnesses or gather more information about a crime that was committed nearby. But if they keep calling you in to answer questions, or if their questions start to get more focused on specific details such as where you were at a certain date or time, they probably suspect you and you should have a criminal defense attorney to help protect your rights.
Author information: Anica Oaks is a professional content and copywriter who graduated from the University of San Francisco. She loves dogs, the ocean, and anything outdoor-related. She was raised in a big family, so she’s used to putting things to a vote. Also, cartwheels are her specialty.
