If facing criminal charges, one thing you should never do is reach out to the victim or any witnesses. There’s no way you’ll be able to justify doing so to a judge, so don’t do it.
Some people facing criminal charges believe they can iron things out or clear up misconceptions if they can only talk to someone involved in the case. But that’s witness tampering — a big no-no. If accused of witness tampering, you could face a misdemeanor or felony charge, depending on the situation. That’s the last thing you need when already in legal hot water for whatever criminal charges are on the table.
Your first order of business is to retain the services of a lawyer to help you. Even if the charges against you are false, you’re no match against the long arm of the law. Going it alone will reduce the odds of getting the charges tossed out, a judgment in your favor, or a lighter sentence.
Here are four things you must never do when facing criminal charges — unless you want to make your criminal defense lawyer’s job exponentially more difficult and hurt your cause.
- Volunteering Information Without Your Lawyer’s Counsel
You need to know when to talk and want to hold your peace. Some people mistakenly believe they can help their cause by offering up information — even when they weren’t asked about something.
Remember that anything you say to the authorities can and will be used against you in a court of law. You might say something that sounds innocent, but your statements could incriminate you.
You have nothing to gain — absolutely nothing — by agreeing to an interrogation without a criminal defense lawyer by your side. Your lawyer will help you and ensure your rights aren’t violated. So, if the police ask for your side of the story, exercise your right to remain silent. It’s a constitutional right you should use to your advantage.
- Resisting Arrest
Another mistake you must avoid is resisting arrest. While you can be forgiven for not wanting to be handcuffed, loaded into the back of a cruiser, and transported to a police station, fighting tooth and nail to avoid being detained will severely hurt your case. There’s no other way to say it.
You’ll incur more charges and make matters worse, which is the last thing you need when facing criminal charges. Peacefully submit to the arrest, and make it known right away that you want to retain a lawyer.
- Oversharing on Social Media
Statista says there were approximately 5 billion social media users globally last year. The odds are you’re on social media. While there is value to connecting with others online, one thing you must never do when facing criminal charges is share information about the case online.
That should be obvious. Even so, some people, even when dealing with serious situations, will nonetheless post updates when they shouldn’t.
Staying away from social media makes sense when dealing with criminal charges. But if you insist on using it, at the very least, stick to topics that don’t relate to your legal situation.
- Withholding Vital Information From Your Lawyer
This one’s a big no-no. If you’re sitting on information relevant to your case, you must share it with your criminal defense lawyer. You don’t want to blindside them at the last minute or put them in a position where they can’t render the assistance they otherwise would. Even if you think certain information isn’t relevant to your case, share it with your lawyer. Let your legal representative determine whether or not the information is relevant.
Steer clear of doing any of these things if you want to avoid making your lawyer’s job harder. Criminal charges are no laughing matter when considering the possible penalties. If in doubt, run things by your lawyer for their professional guidance to stay on the straight and narrow.
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