It’s unfortunate, but sometimes we make mistakes that have a significant impact on our futures. If you’ve been charged with a felony, it’s a really good time to wake up and make some changes. The first step would be learning how to fight your charge and end up with the least negatively impactful resolution. Being convicted can result in heavy fines, imprisonment, and of course, a social stigma that follows you for life. These charges are nothing to laugh at and stay on your permanent record. This can affect your potential job, housing, bank (financial) opportunities and more.
Remain Silent.
It’s pretty common knowledge that you have the right to remain silent once you are arrested, but it appears that many people don’t quite understand what this means. Absolutely anything that is said can be used against you in a court of law, so it’s best to stay completely silent and not even bother trying to explain yourself or reason with the arresting officers. You have the right to not incriminate yourself, so don’t. Even when being questioned, politely refuse responses and instead request the presence of an attorney.
Find an experienced attorney.
It is important to obtain a lawyer as soon as possible. Make sure you do your research and find a reputable lawyer who has relevant experience and past successes with similar cases. Do not answer any questions asked by law enforcement until the attorney is present, as this may make your case more difficult to fight.
It is crucial that you are open and honest with your attorney. This person cannot defend you properly if you are withholding information. Furthermore, if any withheld information happens to come up in court, this can severely impact your lawyer’s ability to defend you against something they have not prepared for. Understand that any information shared with your defending attorney in relation to your case is privileged and they have your best interest in mind. The information shared will only be used to help your case and cannot be discussed without your consent.
Understand the charges against you.
Felony charges are serious and are handled very differently than misdemeanors. The penalties can result in prison time and/or fines. It is important that you understand what you are facing so that you and your lawyer can prepare accordingly. Understanding the charges and the strength of your defense can also help come up with the best back up plan- a possible plea bargain.
Avoid discussing the details of your case with friends or family.
The people who love you and care about you likely have your best interest at heart. They are definitely worrying about you and want to be kept in the loop, which is understandable. However, it is crucial to avoid all discussion of the case with anyone but your legal team like those at Saller Law. Since your conversations with friends or family are not protected by confidentiality, they can end up being used against you, especially if anyone you know has the potential of being called as a witness.
The road ahead may seem long and tedious. The truth is, it most certainly will be. Some mistakes take more than just regret and apologies to amend and unfortunately, you do have to pay the price for your actions. However, if you continue to focus on staying on the straight and narrow, and if you are truly interested in making effective changes, you can get past this. Help your case as much as possible by taking your lawyer’s advice, even if you don’t necessarily agree with all of it.
If you or a loved one has been charged with a felony, don’t delay. Contact an experienced defense attorney today and get started on a strategy to help fight your charges.
