It can be incredibly stressful to know that the police suspect you of having committed a crime. Making matters worse is that fact that you may not know how to respond when the police are investigating you and your relationship to the crime in question. Yet, you have to know how to navigate the investigatory process, otherwise you could unwittingly make a mistake that costs you your freedom. That’s why in this post we want to give some tips for protecting yourself when you fall under criminal investigation.
What steps should you take when under criminal investigation?
There are a lot of things you should and shouldn’t do when the police are looking into you and your connection to a crime. These include:
- Refusing to consent to a search
- Refraining from talking to the police until your attorney advises you otherwise
- Avoiding evidence concealment or destruction
- Refraining from talking to others about the events that are being investigated
- Educating yourself on your legal rights
- Preserving evidence that may disprove any potential assertions by the police and prosecution that you’re guilty
- Gaining a sense of what it is, specifically, that the police are investigating
If you don’t stick to these tips, then there’s a good possibility that the police will be able to box you in, gather incriminating evidence against you and hit you with criminal charges. So, make sure you know how to protect yourself, and don’t be afraid to act on your rights in the face of aggressive police officers while remaining as respectful and cooperative as possible.
If you do, then now is the time to discuss the unique facts of your case with a professional who has experience in criminal defense. By doing so, you’ll hopefully be able to come up with a legal strategy that protects your interests and your legal rights, thereby positioning you to beat back any allegations levied against you.