Seek Legal Counsel Early: How It Can Change the Outcome of Your Case
Realizing that you are the target of a criminal investigation or being charged with a criminal offense can be a frightening and confusing experience. An accusation alone can negatively impact your personal and professional life, while a conviction can cost you your freedom. Attempting to navigate the criminal justice system on your own or waiting too long to seek legal counsel can jeopardize the outcome of your case. Conversely, consulting with an experienced criminal defense attorney at The Vegas Lawyer early on in an investigation or prosecution can significantly improve the likelihood of a positive outcome.
Are You the Target of a Criminal Investigation in Nevada?
Did you receive a “Target Letter” informing you are the target of a federal criminal investigation? Have you received a phone call or a visit from local law enforcement officers? If so, it is imperative to understand that from the moment you become the target of a criminal investigation, or are contacted by law enforcement, your rights, future, and freedom are at risk. Do not convince yourself that you can “explain” or talk your way out of charges being filed against you. Remember, law enforcement officers are trained to ask questions designed to gather evidence and anything you say during an investigation may later be used as evidence against you in court. If you seek legal counsel, however, your attorney can intervene early to protect your rights, guide your interactions with police, and begin building a defense strategy that could prevent you from being charged or prevent a conviction if you are charged.
Preventing Mistakes
For most people, a criminal investigation or prosecution is unfamiliar territory. This makes mistakes easy to make, and those mistakes could have dire consequences. One of the many reasons to seek legal counsel early is to prevent these mistakes. For example, speaking to law enforcement officers without an attorney could lead to your words being misinterpreted or taken out of context and used to support an arrest or conviction. With a lawyer on your side, you will only speak to law enforcement if it benefits you and, even then, only under your attorney’s supervision.
Influence Charging Decisions
Most people do not realize that an arrest does not always lead to criminal charges being filed. In fact, the prosecutor will typically review police reports, witness statements, and other evidence before deciding whether to proceed and what charges to file against a defendant. An important reason to seek legal counsel early is that your attorney may be able to reach out to the prosecutor to present favorable evidence or arguments and prevent charges from being filed or reduce the severity of the charges that are filed against you.
Protecting Your Rights
As a suspect or defendant, you have several valuable rights, guaranteed to you under the U.S. Constitution. To benefit from these rights, however, you must understand them and know how to exercise them. An attorney can explain your rights to you, help you assert them when appropriate, and address any violations that occur during an investigation or prosecution. For instance, if an illegal search uncovers evidence that could be used against you, your attorney can move to exclude that evidence from trial based on the violation of your 4th Amendment rights.
Building a Defense
When it comes to gathering evidence, protecting documents, and identifying favorable witnesses, time is of the essence in a criminal case. Surveillance footage can be erased, physical evidence may degrade, and memories fade. Hiring a criminal defense attorney as early as possible improves your chances of preserving evidence that supports your defense. It also prevents you from saying or doing anything that could interfere with a successful defense strategy.
Contact A Las Vegas Criminal Defense Attorney at The Vegas Lawyers
If you have been charged with a criminal offense in Las Vegas, or you believe you are the target of a criminal investigation, consult with an experienced Las Vegas criminal defense attorney at The Vegas Lawyers as soon as possible to discuss your legal options and defenses. Call us at 702-707-7000 or contact us online.