Without A Criminal Defense Lawyer Phoenix Accused May Make Serious Mistakes

By Michael Fisher


The vast majority of citizens consider themselves to be law abiding, honest, upright people. Yet so many of these ordinary citizens commit crimes that lead to there arrest. They drive after drinking, become involved in fights, make poor decisions and fail to pay their taxes, to name just a few. The simple truth is that anyone that breaks the law committed a criminal act. At least, by hiring an experience criminal defense lawyer Phoenix citizens can be sure that their affairs are in good hands.

The justice system aims to be fair. That is why everyone enjoys certain rights, even when they are accused of committing a crime. Firstly, everyone is presumed to be innocent until he is proven to be guilty. Accused have the right to legal representation, even if they cannot afford to pay for it themselves. In such cases the state will appoint an attorney at its own cost.

Many people do not exercise their right to remain silent and to decline making a statement. They think that their refusal will be a clear indication of their guilt. This is most certainly not the case. Most people are severely stressed after being arrested and they often cannot think straight. If they do make a statement, then it can be used as evidence against them. It is best to wait until the attorney is present before saying anything.

The first priority of the attorney will be to make sure that all the rules and procedures were followed during and after the arrest. If this is not the case the attorney can apply for the charges to be dismissed immediately. The attorney will also arrange bail for his client and even for the services of a bondsman if the client does not have the cash to pay for bail.

Accused that were released on bail have to adhere to strict conditions. They are not allowed to meddle in the investigation, communicate with witnesses or travel outside the boundries specified by the court. In many cases they have to report to a police station daily. If these conditions of bail are not honoured, the accused will be arrested once more.

One of the biggest headaches for defence attorneys is clients that lie to them or that fail to reveal all relevant facts. In order to prepare a proper defence, it is vital that the attorney is in possession of all the facts, regardless of how incriminating or vile they are. If the defence attorney is caught out in a lie during court, the case for the defence will almost certainly be weakened considerably.

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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