Mistakes happen. Try as you might, there’s no way to guarantee that you’ll never mess up as you make your way through life. Sometimes those mistakes have legal ramifications. If you find yourself on the wrong side of the law, don’t freak out. You are not the only one who has gotten in trouble with the law. It is important to think about what you’ve done and how to avoid making a similar mistake in the future, but your primary objective is to limit the impact that your current situation will have on your life.
That might sound selfish, but it’s important to remember that this type of situation can have a long-lasting impact. Trust the justice system to determine what, if any, punishment you deserve, and focus your own efforts on refraining from making anything any worse. If you play your cards right, you can even lessen the financial and social effects on your life. Here are just a few suggestions to help you sort out the mess you’ve gotten into.
Act Right
It is important that you do not make a mistake during the arrest. This means staying quiet and never admitting to anything. Make sure that you do not talk back to the police officer and do not resist arrest. Keep in mind that some police officers may lie when they are arresting you to get you to say something incriminating, so do your best to only answer questions that are necessary.
Lawyer up
You need to make sure you ask for a lawyer once you are in police custody. Cops usually try to get you to answer questions, telling you things are going to be fine but that is not always the case. You want to be safe, so just ask for your lawyer. Cops should not ask you any more questions once you’ve asked for a lawyer. If they do ask, do not answer, and do not offer any information until your lawyer arrives.
Arraignment Time
The arraignment is where you get to say whether you are guilty or not. This is also where a judge appoints a public defender if you cannot afford a lawyer. Most importantly, this is where you get to go home once the judge dictates the details of your bail. You want to make sure you contact a company like Absolute Bail Bonds or someone similar to help you post bail so that you can go home and work with your lawyer on your case.
Learn More
Now that you are working on your case, it is time to learn more about your case. It is important that you ask about the main reason you were arrested. Try your best to understand the details of your arrest and whether or not you actually broke the law. Your lawyer should be able to help you build a case, and you’ll be able to build a strong one if you become as informed as possible.
There is no way around the fact that you are in trouble, so accept that and stay calm. The worst thing you can do right now is panic about the situation you are in. Try to stay focused, and follow your lawyer’s advice as best you can to stand a chance.
