Espaňol
It’s frightening to think about just how easily a false accusation could happen to anyone. Nobody plans for it, but nobody plans on their house catching fire or getting into a car accident, either. Yet, people take out home and auto insurance to cover such possibilities. There are some important things to be aware of should you ever find yourself falsely accused of a crime.
Proper Prior Planning Prevents Poor Performance
It’s a good idea to have a plan in place should you ever find yourself on the wrong end of the law, even if you’ve done nothing wrong. The first thing to do is to figure out ahead of time what you’re going to do if you’re ever faced with a false accusation.
Much like fire drills, tornado or earthquake preparations, or any kind of plan you may have, it’s a good idea to know ahead of time what you will do if such a disaster happens.
You Have the Right to Remain Silent. Exercise it!
Another important thing to remember is that you have the right to remain silent. Remaining silent is not an admission of guilt! If you’re arrested for a crime you didn’t commit, odds are you’re going to be in a state of emotional distress, perhaps even panic.
Don’t try to convince the police of what happened or that you didn’t do anything. The Miranda Rights even tell you “anything you say can and will be used against you…” so it’s in your best interest not to say anything at all until you have a lawyer present.
“Do You Have a Warrant?”
Also remember that the police cannot search your home or vehicle without a warrant. It can be tempting to answer in the affirmative when the police ask if they can search your house. After all, you’re innocent, you have nothing to hide, and you want to be seen as cooperating. Sadly, that’s not how the system works.
If the police want to search anything, insist on a warrant. This is not an admission of guilt, but rather protecting your rights and will let your lawyer know exactly what the police were searching for and if the search was executed properly.
You’re going to have a lot on your mind, but these quick and simple tips will help save you a lot of grief in these trying times. Fortunately, the Blumenreich Law Firm will be there beside you every step of the way to help you prove your innocence. Contact us online or call us today at (602) 252-2570 for a free consultation.