Freehold and East Brunswick Criminal Lawyer Protecting Your Rights
What You Should Do After Your Arrest
After you have been arrested – whether the charges involve an infraction, misdemeanor, or felony – you need to know what to do immediately afterwards to avoid getting into more legal trouble. You have rights, and you must know them and understand how to use them. We are here to help you through every step of the process, but get started by understanding a few basics as discussed below.
Do you think your case is going to go to trial? Do you know you are innocent? No matter the answers, you need to first keep a level head and remember these helpful tips to protect your rights:
Do Not Talk Too Much
Law enforcement officials are undoubtedly going to try to get you to chat with them and inadvertently say something that sounds incriminating; this is part of their job, so try not to take it personally. Instead, exercise your Fifth Amendment right to stay silent and not respond to questioning until you are represented by an attorney. One of the few things you should say is that you would like to get into contact with an East Brunswick criminal defense attorney as soon as possible.
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Great job protecting my future
“Ryan was a trusted adviser throughout the course of my legal issues. I was unfamiliar with legal proceedings and Ryan was able to explain to me my legal situation, and risks associated with various defenses and decisions I had to make. He took the time to explain all the scenarios to my satisfaction which gave me piece of mind and comfort. Ryan was also very responsive through various forms of communications (phone, email, text) which made keeping in contact convenient throughout the process. Ryan showed up on time (early in fact) to various appointments and appeared to handle relationship building effectively with opposing attorneys and the prosecutor. At the end of the day, I was very satisfied with the work done by Ryan as the outcome of my legal matter was better than I had expected and kept my reputation in tact, which undoubtedly will help me pursue my future career/professional ambitions.”- Former Client
Make Your Matters Private
Understandably, your first instinct will be to talk to friends, family members, and coworkers about your harrowing run in with the law. It is critical that you resist and stay quiet and confidential about the whole thing. Did you know that the police can seek them out for questioning? If you tell them anything in confidence, they may still disclose information, or even testify against you in court. Remember the old maritime motto: “Loose lips sink ships.”
Retain Your Attorney
The sooner you get professional legal counsel on your side, the better. If you have not already researched lawyers in your area, do so now and get ready to hire one. A law firm with an impressive history of case results and 5-star client testimonials is always good.
Stay Honest
If you are not truthful with your criminal defense lawyer, you are only making their job more difficult and your chances of success slimmer. Remember that everything you tell them is done so in strict confidentiality. Do you know of witnesses to the alleged crime? Do you have an alibi that places you elsewhere? Let them know!
What are Your Rights, Anyway?
With all of that said about how to protect your rights, you might still be in the dark as to what your rights actually are. There is no reason to be embarrassed, as many Americans do not know their rights after being arrested, and it can sometimes seem as if law enforcement does not want to make them well-known. Basically, you need to be primarily concerned with the Miranda warning – sometimes called your Miranda rights.
Whenever you are arrested, you need to be told the Miranda warning as soon as possible, and the rights it describes:
- You have the right to remain silent.
- Anything that you say or do can be used against you.
- You have the right to a defense lawyer.
- Your attorney can be present when you are questioned.
- You may be provided an attorney if you can’t afford one.
Understanding your rights gives you leverage in your defense case that you might not have foreseen. If at any point the arresting officers violate your rights, you might be able to have any of the subsequent evidence suppressed and deemed inadmissible in court. But you won’t be able to make that argument if you don’t know your rights in the first place.
Need to know more about your rights? Contact an East Brunswick criminal defense attorney from the Law Offices of Ryan E. Gilbert, LLC!
Our Settlements & Verdicts
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Client Acquitted Assault
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Assault Charge Dismissed Assault and Cross-Complaint for False Police Report
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Charges Dismissed Domestic Violence Temporary Restraining Order Dismissed Against Client following Trial
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All Charges Were Dismissed DWI and Careless Driving
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DWI Charge Dismissed DWI and Reckless Driving
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DWI And Lane Change Dismissed DWI, Reckless Driving, Failure and Unsafe Lane Change