Tuesday 27 February 2018

By Hiring A Criminal Defense Lawyer Phoenix Accused Are Protecting Themselves

By Michael Fisher


Man is most certainly not perfect. They make mistakes such as risking arrest by drinking under the influence, getting involved in illegal schemes, making poor decisions, failing to pay taxes and so forth. In many of these cases the risk does not pay off and the accused is arrested. Being arrested is a very serious matter, regardless of the nature of the criminal charges. However, by hiring a criminal defense lawyer Phoenix residents can be sure of professional help.

Even hardened career criminals suspected of committing the most heinous crimes have certain inalienable rights. When arrested, they have to be informed of all their rights. They have the right to refuse to answer questions or to make a statement. They also have the right to legal representation, even if the state must appoint one for them. In fact, anyone arrested should hire an attorney immediately.

Many accused think that if they answer questions and make statements they will be treated leniently. This is not the case. Whatever the accused says can be used against him during the court case. It is in the best interest of any accused to wait until his attorney is present before he says anything to the authorities. It is easy to make mistakes at a time when one is stressed and scared.

Once on the case, the attorney will review the facts of the case and ascertain that the arresting authorities have followed the correct protocol. If mistakes have been made during the arrest process, the charges may be dismissed. Next the attorney will arrange for bail. The accused will have to pay a cash amount to secure bail.

Bail is not a right. The court needs to be convinced that the accused is not a flight risk, that he does not pose a danger to himself or others and that he will refrain from meddling in the investigation against him. In many cases the accused is required to regularly report to a police station and the court may even impose travel restrictions.

The biggest mistake that any accused can make is to be dishonest with his attorney. It is absolutely vital to be completely honest at all times, even if the facts are embarrassing or incriminating. The attorney cannot prepare a decent defence if he does not have the true facts. This may easily cause a situation where lies are exposed in open court, severely damaging the case of the accused.

The fees charged by defence attorneys can be astronomical, especially in protracted cases. Nobody can be absolutely sure that they will never be arrested, so it is best to plan for such an eventuality. The best course of action is to buy insurance that is designed to cover the cost of legal fees. Defending oneself is truly a very foolish route to take.

When arrested it is definitely best to hire the best attorney possible. A conviction can have serious long term consequences. It can damage or even destroy the career of the accused. Large fines can be financially crippling and, worst of all, the stigma of being a criminal will be a burden for a long time.




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