Learn what you can do to help your criminal defense attorney secure the most satisfactory outcome possible to your case.
When you’re working with a good criminal defense attorney, it should feel like a partnership rather than a business transaction. You should feel that your attorney really cares about the outcome of your case and is working hard to secure the best possible outcome for you, whether that be an innocent verdict or a plea deal. If you hold up your end of the partnership by doing these 5 things, you can make your attorney’s job a whole lot easier, saving them time and energy that can then be redirected to the most important aspects of your case.
Don’t Talk to the Police
First and foremost, it is important to understand that you are under no obligation to incriminate yourself by speaking to the police, with or without an attorney. Now, it might not seem like you are revealing incriminating information by answering certain questions, but the truth is you never know what detail will get used against you later. It is much safer to simply refuse to answer any questions unless your attorney is present and advises you to do so.
Don’t Discuss Your Case
It is only natural to want to discuss your case and your situation with family and friends. You may even find the media sniffing around looking for a statement. However, silence is the best policy. This is the best way to ensure that no new evidence can be gathered against you from your conversations.
Tell Your Attorney Everything
Every conversation you have with your criminal defense attorney is confidential, so you can and should tell them anything and everything that could possibly be relevant to your case. Don’t make the relevance judgment yourself, let your attorney decide that. It may turn out that some minor detail offers intriguing possibilities for your defense. Another reason to tell your attorney everything about the case is that it helps your attorney to get out in front of any evidence the prosecution may eventually find and present.
Provide Any Evidence You Are Aware Of
If you know the names and addresses of any potential witnesses for your case, give them to your attorney. While your attorney could hire an investigator to help look for evidence, this can be costly and chances are you would prefer not to have these costs passed on to you.
Keep in Touch
Finally, be sure to keep open channels of communication between you and your attorney. If you change your address or phone number, notify your attorney immediately. This will help prevent important communications regarding court dates, etc. from being missed. It will also give your attorney the ability to reach you easily to discuss developments in your case.
