How to Legally Defend Yourself Against False Accusations
Being falsely accused of a crime may just be one of the most stressful experiences that an accused individual can face. Regardless of whether you committed the offense, it is important to know how you can defend yourself.
In this blog, we will discuss what you can do if you are ever falsely accused of an offense.
Do I Need a Lawyer?
Yes! Even though, you are innocent of the crime, you are still going to need a professional to help you fight the accusations. As soon as you are charged with a crime, you should hire a criminal defense lawyer who can ensure that your rights are protected and who will advocate on your behalf.
Building a criminal defense
Your lawyer will guide you on the steps to building a good criminal defense, but below are the basics:
- Know your legal options – your criminal defense lawyer will explain your options to you. When you have a lawyer that has experience with cases similar to yours, they can give you excellent insight on the best approach for your case.
- Disclose all the details – your lawyer will be best prepared to defend you, when you disclose all of the details to them. Even if you feel that a particular detail may hurt your case, you need to share it with your lawyer.
- Collect evidence – gathering evidence for your defense lawyer can really help you to build your defense. Evidence may include physical items or witness testimony, but it may also include documents such as emails. The more you can provide your lawyer with, the better.
- Build a strategy – going to trial can be incredibly intimidating, so if your case is going to court, your lawyer will work with you to build a strong criminal defense strategy. This will help you to be more confident about your facts and help to make court a little less daunting.
What not to do
As important as it is to know what to do when you are falsely accused of a crime, it is also important to know what not to do. Here are a few things to avoid:
- Do not make statements about the accusations – once you have been charged with a crime, anything you say (other than to your lawyer) can come back to haunt you. It is important to always consult with your lawyer prior to make any statements.
- Do not let anyone search you without a warrant – if someone from law enforcement wants to search your home or vehicle, always ask for a search warrant before you allow them. This will be a legal document that has been signed by a judge. Also, make sure the officer is only searching what the warrant says they can search – for example, if it says they may search your home, do not allow them to search your vehicle. Contact your lawyer immediately if you are being searched. However, there may be circumstances in which a search warrant is not required from law enforcement in which regardless they can search.
- Do not destroy evidence – being charged with a crime is scary so it may be tempting to destroy or tamper with evidence that you think may hurt your case. But don’t do this! Destroying evidence is more likely to make you look guilty – and besides, doing so is another crime that you could be charged with.
Contact Minhas Lawyers today
If you have been falsely charged with a crime, don’t wait. Contact Minhas Lawyers today to consult with a lawyer!