Why It Is Vital To Hire A New Jersey Criminal Lawyer When Accused Of A Crime

By Donna Murray


At any given time law enforcement agencies are investigating many thousands of people suspected of criminal activities and numerous arrest are made annually. The vast majority of these people are ordinary citizens that lead ordinary lives. Being arrested or investigated is a very serious affair with many possible long term consequences. Anyone in such a situation should immediately hire the services of a competent New Jersey criminal lawyer.

Even those people facing charges for committing the most hideous crimes have certain rights that are enshrined in the constitution. Among these rights is the right to refuse to answer questions or to make any form of statement unless an attorney is present. In most cases it is considered best to insist upon this right. Many people facing criminal charges are nervous and frightened and they may say something that will prove to be to their detriment in court later on.

The first priority of the attorney will be to ascertain the facts of the case against his client. The authorities have no choice but to make these facts known to the attorney. He will also consult with his client to gain a balanced view on the matter. The attorney will be present when the accused make a statement and he will make sure that the rights of his client are upheld at all times.

The attorney will do everything possible to have his client released on bail. In many cases this can be done very quickly, especially if the accused is a first offender and if there are no reasons to believe that he will contravene the conditions of bail. These conditions typically include a ban on travelling and a strict instruction not to contact any witnesses or to interfere in the investigation.

The conditions of bail must be taken very seriously. If the accused break any of the conditions he stands a good chance of being arrested again and remanded in custody until his case is heard. He may also face additional charges, which will only add to his problems. The best course of action is to religiously follow the conditions of bail.

One of the biggest problems faced by defence attorneys is clients that do not tell them the truth or that omit important facts. No attorney can prepare a decent defence unless he is fully informed. Accused should always be brutally honest with the attorneys, even if the facts are incriminating and embarrassing. Attorneys have been known to excuse themselves from a case because their clients are dishonest.

Due to overwhelming case loads that the courts experience attorneys are often able to reach a plea bargain with the prosecutor. The accused plead guilty and a sentence is agreed between the attorney and the prosecutor. The court will then approve this agreement and the entire matter can be finalized without the accused having to appear in open court.

Nobody accused of committing a crime should ever contemplate representing themselves, even if they are one hundred per cent innocent. The legal system is extremely complex and it is easy to make mistakes that can have terrible ramifications. The only course of action is to appoint an experienced attorney that specializes in such cases.




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