6 Reasons Why You Need to Hire an Attorney Before Charges Are Filed Against You
If you are accused of a crime, you may not take the accusations seriously because actual charges have not been filed against you. However, just because you have yet to be charged with a crime does not mean charges won’t be filed against you. What may be taking place is a pre-filing investigation.
During a pre-filing investigation, the police analyze a case to try to find more evidence or try to make sense of any hidden or ambiguous facts before charges are filed.
The following are six reasons why you need to hire an experienced criminal defense attorney as soon as you suspect you may be charged with a crime…
1. Your attorney can influence the prosecutor’s discretion in filing charges against you.
During a pre-filing investigation, the prosecutor may file serious charges against you based on the police’s early investigation. Without a defense attorney to monitor the prosecutor, the prosecutor can aggressively file charges against you with little to no oversight. An experienced attorney can monitor the prosecutor to make sure no outrageous charges are filed against you.
2. Your attorney can speak to law enforcement for you.
Before criminal charges are filed against you, the police may try to speak to you regarding your case. The police may try to talk to you informally about your case in-person or over the phone to try to get more information or even a confession from you. They may seem casual and may even tell you that they are on your side, but they will use anything you say against you in court. It is important to refer any contact from law enforcement to your attorney who can speak for you on your behalf.
3. Your attorney will continually monitor the status of your case.
A pre-filing investigation can take a long time. It can take weeks, months or even years for criminal charges to be filed against a person. During this time, your attorney will keep you up to date on your case through constant contact with the prosecutor and law enforcement and relay any information or updates to you.
4. Your attorney can explain the charges you may be facing.
If you are accused of a crime, your attorney can explain what the crimes mean, the effects it can have on your life and what to do during this difficult time. An experienced attorney with familiarity in the court system of the area in which the crime took place can determine whether certain factors within the court (i.e. leniency of judges, prosecutors, procedures, etc.) will have an impact on your case. Your attorney can also answer any questions you may have.
5. Your attorney can start building a strong defense against your charges.
If you are accused of a crime, it is important to retain an experienced attorney as soon as possible to review your case and start building a strong defense against the charges against you. The more time your attorney has to prepare your defense, the stronger your defense can be. Your attorney will review evidence, speak to law enforcement and interview witnesses to help build your case.
6. Your attorney’s own investigation can lead to the charges against you being reduced or dismissed.
When you retain an attorney during a pre-filing investigation, he/she will be doing his/her own research on your case. Before the prosecutor files charges against you, your attorney will try to speak to the prosecutor and try to convince the prosecutor to not file charges against you based on your attorney’s investigation. Your attorney may be able to show the prosecutor new facts in your case that can lead to reduced charges or no charges at all.
Call the Criminal Defense Attorneys at Wallin & Klarich Today
If you or a loved one is facing criminal charges or suspect that you may face criminal charges in the near future, it is critical that you speak to an experienced criminal defense attorney as soon as possible. At Wallin & Klarich, our attorneys have over 40 years of experience in handling pre-filing cases in Southern California. Our attorneys will fight to get you the best possible outcome in your case.
With offices in Los Angeles, Sherman Oaks, Torrance, Tustin, San Diego, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura, West Covina and Victorville, there is an experienced Wallin & Klarich Southern California criminal defense attorney near you no matter where you work or live.
Call us today at (877) 4-NO-JAIL or (877) 466-5245 for a free phone consultation. We will be there when you call.