Caught in a Bind
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December 28, 2021
Knowing what to do and what not to do when facing legal circumstances often times can make the difference between a winning and losing case. By following these best practices, you'll have a leg up in pushing yourself in the direction of a more positive outcome.
Do's:
- Ask to see a copy of any warrant relied on to search your home, car, computer, files, etc.
- It is important to stay in compliance with your pretrial conditions of release. Staying out of jail helps in a variety of ways. It makes it easier to meet and prepare for trial if you intend to fight your case. But even if you end up resolving with a plea bargain, staying out of jail allows you to enroll in school or obtain a job and volunteer your time towards community service to hopefully impress the judge to sentence you to less time. If released on bond, always stay in compliance with the conditions imposed by the court.
- Work with your attorney. Provide names and contact information for potential defense witnesses and any favorable photos or documents as earlier as can be to your attorney and investigator.
Don'ts:
- Don’t speak to law enforcement without a lawyer present.
- Don’t consent to the search of your phone without a lawyer present.
- Do not attempt to destroy or tamper with evidence or intimidate witnesses. Do not attempt to obstruct the prosecution’s investigation in any way. Evidence of such conduct could expose yourself to additional criminal charges as well as provide damning evidence in the prosecution’s case.
- Remember that your phone calls in jail are recorded– so do not discuss details of your case or anything that inculpates you over the phone.