Whether you’re under investigation, facing charges or have just been arrested, you need to make sure that you do not say or do anything that could hurt your case. You’re in a precarious position, and it’s important that you don’t end up getting into deeper trouble with the law through your actions.
Any time you believe you’re under investigation or after you’ve been arrested, your first thought should be to develop a defense. To do that, you may want to talk to a criminal defense attorney.
What is a criminal defense attorney?
Criminal defense attorneys are attorneys who have studied criminal law and who work with defendants in all kinds of criminal cases. Criminal defense attorneys may work with cases involving:
- DUIs
- White-collar crimes
- Drug crimes
- Assault and battery
- Kidnapping
…as well as many others. A criminal defense attorney has a single job. That job is to strongly defend the person accused of committing a crime, so that there is a better chance of reducing or eliminating the risk of penalties.
What does a criminal defense attorney do?
A criminal defense attorney does a few different things. They’ll start out by investigating the case and talking to witnesses that were at the scene of an alleged criminal act. For example, if the defendant was involved in a car crash, the attorney will speak to witnesses about what they saw.
The attorney will go on to research case law, state and federal statutes, criminal codes and procedures that will help them help their client.
When your criminal attorney works with you, they will want to know exactly what happened in your own words. It’s important to be honest with them, so that they can look at the case from different angles to help put together a strong defense for court.
While many cases settle outside trial, there is a chance that your case could go to trial. If so, they will advocate for you during the trial and put together a strong case against a conviction. Your attorney will also help you prepare, so that you know what to expect when you go to court.
