10 Things To Do If Arrested For The 1st Time

If you have just been arrested for the first time, you are likely feeling anxious and uncertain about what your future holds. Regardless of the charges you are facing, here are some tips to make the process as smooth as possible.

1. Don’t panic. Although you are probably anxious and overwhelmed, there is no need to panic. At this stage you will not have a lot of information about the exact charges or existing evidence. It is important that you remain calm and understand that you do not have all of the pieces of the puzzle at this point, so a lot of the fear and panic is based solely on your own speculation as to a possible outcome.

2. Do not give permission to the police to search your property or home unless they have a search warrant. Just like you are not required to speak with police officers without your attorney present, you are not required to let police search you or your home, unless they show you a search warrant. 3. Make a list of all the people that may be involved in your case. Think about potential witnesses who may be helpful to your defense or anyone you spoke to about the events relating to your charges. Even if these contacts seem unimportant now, they may become relevant at a later point.

4. Make a log of events leading up to your arrest. This log can be created in the form of a journal entry which includes all of the background and details leading up to your arrest. It’s important to do this when the events are still fresh in your memory, to ensure that you don’t forget a critical piece of information that may be of value to your case. 5. Never speak to a detective, police officer, special agent, or any type of investigator after you have been arrested. It is possible they will attempt to call or come by your home to interview you. Politely decline, stating that you plan to have a lawyer contact them.

6. Be patient. The criminal justice system moves slowly—this is the norm. You may feel that you will never return to your daily life. It’s important to remain patient and focused on one day at a time. While it is certainly frustrating and difficult to have a criminal case “hanging over your head,” often, this is actually not a bad thing for the defense.

7. Contact family members and loved ones for support. This is likely a difficult time for you. Communicating with your support network can provide the comfort and encouragement you need to help you through the process. They can also be an integral part of the mitigation process as your case progresses and can assist in providing character references and appear in court on your behalf. Additionally, judges regard family support and involvement as a positive attribute toward you.

8. Make a list of questions and concerns that you may have about your case. You most likely will want to know about the strengths and weaknesses of your defenses, potential jail time, and what to expect during and after trial. It can be helpful to write your questions down so that you know what to ask once you retain an attorney to represent you.

9. Limit your internet research. Having resources online and at your fingertips on your smart phone make it hard to resist doing research. However, while there is a wealth of information on the internet, there is also a lot of misinformation.

10. Spend time researching an attorney for your case. Every attorney is not created equal, so to speak, and you will need someone who knows their way around a courtroom and someone who knows what they’re doing in a criminal case. Some questions you can ask include: “How many years have you practiced criminal law and how many criminal cases have you handled?” Additionally, you want to ask if the attorney will personally handle your case, as well as how long it takes them to return phone calls. Lastly, you should ask if they charge a flat fee, or if they charge by the hour (which could go on forever in a criminal case).

Thank you for reading my guide. If you are involved in the criminal justice system, a qualified criminal defense attorney is essential to explain your legal rights and available options at every step of the way. A criminal defense attorney can help ensure that you understand the nature of the charges against you, any possible defenses, and what to expect before, during, and after trial. Competent legal representation can result in reduced charges or sentences, or even a complete dismissal of your case.

All the Best,

Criminal Defense Attorney