What Should I Do If I’ve Been Falsely Accused Of A Crime?
It may seem as though those accused of crimes are at least a little guilty, if not of the act itself then the possibility of actually being a solid candidate for its prosecution.
There’s no smoke without fire, some may say. While it’s true that being accused of a crime does not place you in a warm light, everyone is innocent until proven guilty, and deserves to have their right to a defense. That’s what helps separate our society from others in which mob justice is still considered an acceptable or even necessary form of justice.
We can understand this intellectually of course, but that doesn’t help the raw emotions that often come when cases like this are pursued.
But what if you, yourself, have been falsely accused of a crime? Perhaps you’ve been labeled as being at fault in a road collision, or accused of financial impropriety, or perhaps an issue has caused you to struggle with an appropriate outcome. In this post, we’ll discuss what to do if you’ve been falsely accused of a crime and how to defend yourself in kind:
Read: WHY YOU’RE PROBABLY GOING TO NEED A LAWYER AT SOME POINT IN YOUR LIFE
Exercise Your Right To Silence
Ultimately, law enforcement is not your friend. If they suspect you’re involved in a crime, their task is to get to the bottom of the issue. That may or may not incriminate you. Either way, you have certain rights. You can politely deal with law enforcement, give them the respect they’re due, and clearly but firmly keep quiet until you have time to speak with a local professional. Of course, you’re free to deny accusations, as police will often treat those who outright deny (and feel incredulous you’re even being asked these questions), as more trustworthy than those who seem to give half-hearted responses. Still, it’s always best to remain silent until better counsel is available. Remember, the police are within their rights to lie to you (such as telling you they have great deals of evidence against you), in hopes they’ll find a connection.
Always Request An Attorney
At the soonest possible opportunity, it’s important to exercise your right to an attorney. One can be appointed to you if you don’t have the funds to pay for a private lawyer. However, following these tips to choose a local felony attorney can be a fantastic place to start for most people. They will help you assess the exact way to answer questions without incriminating yourself, they will ensure your rights are fully respected, and that you won’t incriminate yourself, even by accident. They can also help you begin the process of:
Gathering Evidence & Build Your Case
It’s always helpful to gather appropriate evidence for your case. That might sound obvious in theory, but this might take a little while and having a legal expert piece that together for you will sustain the best possible outcome. That might involve finding witnesses, people to testify in a potential trial, or simply proving you couldn’t have been in a certain location at a certain time because of proof that has come to light. They can also help organize deals, pleas, and many other potential avenues toward a conclusion before the case ever goes to a jury of your peers. With attorney-client privilege, lawyers are bound to protect your honesty if they choose to accept your case – but if you’ve been falsely accused then this won’t be a problem.
Read: SEVEN TIMES IN LIFE YOU MIGHT NEED A LAWYER
With this advice, you’re sure to act sensibly and in the most self-preserving manner if you’ve been falsely accused of a crime.
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