What a lot of people don’t realize is that it’s oftentimes not the crime itself that leads to a criminal conviction, but the attempted coverup of alleged criminal wrongdoing. That’s why if you think that you’re going to be under investigation for an alleged crime, then you need to be proactive in protecting your rights and your interests.
How do you go about doing that? It starts with understanding the investigatory process. Here are some of the techniques utilized by law enforcement as they dig into alleged criminal wrongdoing:
- The police visit you at home or work: Although not a direct indication that you’re a suspect, a visit from law enforcement certainly signals that they think that you’re involved somehow, even if it’s just as a witness or someone who may have additional information. Be careful with what you say, as your words may be misconstrued and used to further an investigation into you and your actions.
- The police start contacting those you know: If the police start contacting your family, friends, neighbors, and coworkers, then there’s a significant chance that they’re looking into you further to see if there’s evidence that they can use to support criminal charges. This means that you need to be aware of what you’re saying to people and how you’re acting around them so that you don’t raise any suspicions.
- You’re being surveilled: If you notice law enforcement vehicles outside of your home or your place of employment, then law enforcement may be following you to see if you make any moves that could be indicative of your guilt. Again, be cognizant of how you’re acting and who you’re meeting with while the investigation is ongoing.
- You receive social media friend requests: This may seem innocent enough, but these friend requests may be investigators who are looking to scour your social medial pages for evidence of criminal wrongdoing. So, be aware of who you’re allowing to access your social media pages and be careful when posting information on those sites.
- You’re interviewed by the police: Remember, you have an absolute right to remain silent and the right to an attorney. Therefore, you never have to talk to the police, even if you’re subjected to custodial interrogation. And you should never talk without having an attorney by your side, even if law enforcement is saying that they just want to get some information from you and they seem friendly about it.
- You’re subjected to a search warrant: If the police have gone so far as to obtain a warrant to search your home, your car, or your place of business, then they think that you’ve done something illegal. Keep this in mind throughout the investigatory process. Anything that you create or write may end up being seized by the police. Is it going to look incriminating? If so, then it may be best to forego documentation if you can do so legally.
You can have an attorney by your side throughout the process
As stressful as the investigatory process may seem, you can have a criminal defense attorney by your side at all times. By having an advocate in your corner, you can ensure that your rights are protected and that you don’t make any mistakes that will further the state’s interest in bringing criminal charges against you.
So, if you want to learn more about what you can do to avoid being charged with a crime or what you can do to defend yourself from accusations of criminal wrongdoing, then please consider reaching out to a criminal defense team that you think will give you the aggressive representation that you deserve.