Three mistakes to avoid during and after an arrest

A criminal arrest is a very difficult situation with consequences that could affect the rest of your life. The decisions you make during and after the arrest can help your legal case or hurt it. Here are three mistakes to avoid:

Admitting guilt

Admitting you are guilty of a criminal offense can be a mistake that will haunt you for the rest of your life. You are innocent until proven guilty in the eyes of the law and you should not sacrifice the legal protections you have.

Even admitting to a minor error in judgment can cause you unnecessary trouble. Statements such as “I only had one drink” or “I was just carrying the merchandise in my pocket” may seem like a good idea, but generally, the less you say to the police the better. Even if you think you are guilty, the facts of the case may say otherwise.

Withholding information from your attorney

One thing you should do after a criminal arrest is speak with a good defense lawyer as soon as possible. Once you have hired a lawyer, make sure you are upfront with him or her about the circumstances of your arrest and the alleged incident. Your attorney is bound by law to advocate for your interests. The more he or she knows about the situation, the better equipped he or she will be to fight for your rights.

Wishing the problem will go away

If you are in criminal trouble, the problem will not go away on its own. You have to take action to preserve your rights and to seek the best possible outcome. The sooner you speak with a knowledgeable defense lawyer about your options the better chance you have of avoiding a bad outcome.