It’s tempting to think that criminal defense lawyers are exclusively for criminals. But the reality is, innocent people need lawyers even more than guilty people do. If you’re innocent, and if you’ve been accused of a crime or are being detained by the police, you need to hire a criminal defense lawyer right away.
But why is this the case?
What a Criminal Defense Lawyer Does
Your criminal defense lawyer will serve many different roles – and help you in a variety of ways. The sooner you call a criminal defense lawyer, the better. The moment you get in contact with them, they can begin supporting you. They’ll help you understand your existing circumstances, and if you’re currently being interrogated or if you’re under arrest, they can meet with you and represent you in police interviews.
Depending on the nature and extent of the charges you’re facing, your lawyer may help you gather evidence, strategize, and provide accurate answers to police officers while preventing you from incriminating yourself. They can protect you from police officers and even represent you in trial, if it comes to that.
No matter what, you should have a criminal defense lawyer at your side if you’re facing charges, or if you’re being arrested or detained.
Why Your Innocence Isn’t Relevant
Why does your innocence not matter in this regard? Why is it that innocent people still need to have a lawyer?
- Innocent people still get found guilty. First and foremost, you should know that your innocence isn’t going to save you from jail on its own. Innocent people are found guilty all the time, and a non-negligible percentage of the prison population is thought to be totally innocent of the crimes they were accused of committing. Even if you are innocent, you need a lawyer to help guide you through the process and represent you adequately.
- The police are master manipulators. Police officers aren’t always interested in the truth; often, they’re much more interested in merely getting a confession, and they’ll do whatever it takes to get one. Police officers are free to lie to you, and they’ll use a variety of manipulation tactics to get you to talk or behave in whatever way is advantageous to them. Even if you consider yourself somewhat resilient to such tactics, it’s hard to anticipate exactly how you’ll act when you’re under bright lights, or when you’ve been interrogated for 8 hours straight. Your lawyer is going to serve as an insulating barrier that protects you from deceitful and manipulative actions.
- It’s hard to keep even a true story straight. Any contradiction or weakness in your story is going to make you look more guilty. The trouble is, it’s hard to keep even a totally accurate, true story consistent when you say it over and over. What happens if you misremember a key detail? What happens if you misspeak about what time the incident took place? Even a small slip-up could work against you. Your lawyer can help you keep everything organized so your details remain accurate and consistent.
- Inadvertent confessions happen. Also keep in mind that in the course of an interrogation, you might inadvertently confess to another crime. For example, if you attempt to exonerate yourself by explaining that you couldn’t have killed the victim because you were busy robbing a gas station at the time, the police can arrest you for robbery. This is a cartoonish example, but this type of situation happens more frequently than you might imagine.
- Evidence isn’t going to gather itself. If you want to put up a successful defense, you need evidence that works in your favor and proves your version of events. Unfortunately, that evidence isn’t going to gather itself. Your lawyer can work on your behalf, gathering evidence in the outside world and helping you brainstorm new pieces of evidence that could exculpate you.
- Your rights may be violated. Even if you’re under arrest, you still have rights. The police are required to treat you with dignity and respect, and they must conform to certain rules and regulations when interrogating you. Your lawyer is going to make sure your rights are preserved and that you’re treated adequately.
- You need extra support. Finally, being accused of a crime is a stressful event that takes a heavy emotional toll. In some ways, it’s even worse if you’re innocent. Your lawyer is going to serve as a foundational pillar of support as you go through this tumultuous experience.
Many innocent people have gone to prison, falsely believing that their innocence would eventually become evident. Don’t become one of them. Hire the best criminal defense attorney you can afford if you ever find yourself in trouble with the police, and keep your mouth shut in the meantime.
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