Clearly, nobody wants to be accused of a crime. However, it may be that this is a much more common legal experience than you might think, and of course it is not necessarily the case that you have actually committed any offence for this to happen. If you have been accused of a crime and you are wondering what you should do, there are a few things to know about first and foremost. Let’s take a look now at some of the main things that you might want to bear in mind here.
Stay Calm
This is perhaps the most important advice of all. As far as possible, you really should try to stay calm and not panic. Despite it being an unfortunate circumstance, there is no reason to think that it is going to pan out badly. You just need to make sure you are keeping calm and not getting too overwhelmed. This way, you will be so much more able to deal with what happens and to make the right decisions, so it’s a really important thing to bear in mind all in all. Take a deep breath and focus on what you need to do next.
Invoke Your Right To Silence
You have a right to stay silent, so you should make sure that you are really considering invoking it. One of the biggest mistakes people make is talking too much. You might think that being innocent means that you can say whatever you like and it should be fine. It’s the opposite: if you are innocent, definitely do not say anything that might be used against you – instead, protect that innocence with your silence. This is a much safer approach, and it’s going to make a world of difference to how you deal with the situation.
Get A Lawyer
You should get a lawyer immediately, before you say anything and before anything else happens. Do not try to handle this on your own. Criminal lawyers are the experts for a reason, and they will be able to help you deal with the situation and give you the best chance for your case. They’ll also be able to advise you on what to say and what not to say. It’s hard to overstate how valuable this is – it might be the difference between keeping yourself free or not, so it’s clearly something to think about.
Do Not Consent To Searches
You don’t have to consent to being searched, so do not do so. You might be surprised at how often they might find something that can be used against you, even if it’s actually perfectly innocent. So unless they have a warrant, they cannot search your home, car or belongings. All you need to do is politely refuse consent. If you can do that, you are going to find that you are much more likely to be able to protect yourself in this difficult situation, which is the main thing to focus on.