Criminal Defense

Dos And Don’ts after Being Arrested

Learn How to Face Criminal Charges The Right Way

Here’s what you should do if you’re arrested in Florida:

Invoke Your Right to Remain Silent

Because of your Miranda rights, you don’t have to say anything to law enforcement upon arrest. The arresting police officers must inform you of this right before taking you into custody. It primarily means that you can decide to remain silent during questioning. The reason for this is simple—anything you say can be used against you in a court of law.

So, fight the urge to explain yourself to law enforcement agents, thinking it will put you in their good graces. Most of the time, it doesn’t. Instead, it exposes you to tricky questions that’ll force you to incriminate yourself even before the severity of the situation dawns on you.

Keep Calm

An arrest is a distressing situation, so it’s easy to feel anxious. However, you must remain calm and cooperate with the police officers as much as possible. Obey their instructions to the extent that they don’t trample on your rights. This will go a long way in ensuring that an already bad situation doesn’t become worse.

Document Everything Possible

You should start thinking about gathering evidence to defend your case from the moment you were arrested, so don’t forget to document every minute detail from the time of your arrest to your attorney’s arrival. For example, you can write down the arresting officers’ names and badge numbers, as well as witnesses’ details.

Document everything that comes to mind, even if you think it is insignificant. Our criminal defense lawyers will analyze what you’ve gathered and determine what information is vital to your defense. If you’re lucky, your documentation may prove an unlawful arrest that helps to suppress evidence or dismiss your case.

Contact Our Law Firm

Another aspect of your Miranda rights is having your attorney present during questioning. However, the role of your legal representative extends beyond the interrogation room to trial and beyond. Not only should you hire a lawyer, you should also get one who focuses on criminal defense. It’s your life at stake here, and you deserve the best quality legal representation that you can get.

That’s why we encourage you to contact only tested and trusted attorneys like us. We’ll dedicate all our resources to defending the charge against you.

These are the common mistakes to avoid upon an arrest:

Resisting Arrest

It’s never a good idea to struggle with a police officer or act aggressively toward them. Doing so will not only necessitate their use of force but may also lead to additional charges against you. Note that your resistance doesn’t have to be violent to occasion a charge of resisting arrest. For example, you can resist an arrest by giving law enforcement false information or walking away from them.

Discussing Your Case on Social Media

The same rule for not disclosing information to law enforcement without your attorney’s approval applies to everyone else, especially on social media. This will ensure that you don’t incriminate yourself in any way. You should only discuss your case with your lawyers because the attorney-client privilege for confidential communication binds them.

Jumping Bail

You’re to adhere strictly to your release conditions if you’re granted bail pending trial. One of the conditions is to be available in court at each hearing date or whenever required. If you violate this condition, you’ll likely be charged with bail jumping, a separate offense that carries steep penalties.

The consequences of bail jumping or failure to appear include bail forfeiture, a second arrest, or prison term. So, except for valid reasons such as a health emergency, you should never willfully miss your court date.

Committing A Crime

One of the worst things to do while on bail is to commit another crime in violation of your release conditions. No matter how minor the offense is, it can significantly worsen your case. For example, the judge will likely revoke your bail, meaning that you will be placed in custody until your case is concluded. This will also reduce your chances of a plea deal with the prosecutor.

Hiding Facts from Your Attorney

Always remember that your criminal defense attorney is your one true ally in times like this. They need to know the full details of your case for the sole purpose of helping you avoid conviction or severe punishments. Blindsiding your lawyer by misrepresenting information or keeping important facts away from them makes their job more difficult. Regardless of how noble your reasons are, it drastically reduces your chances of succeeding in your case.

Are you confused about what’s expected of you after an arrest? Our attorneys are always ready to give you professional and personalized guidance when you contact our law firm.

What Types of Crimes Do We Handle?

We Tackle A Wide Variety of Federal And State Criminal Cases