The Cost of Not Hiring an Attorney for a Pre-filing Investigation
If you are being investigated for a crime but you have yet to be charged, it is very important that you hire a lawyer immediately. It can make the difference between spending time in custody and avoiding criminal charges. The sooner your attorney begins planning your defense, protecting your constitutional rights and negotiating with the appropriate investigative agency, the better off you will be.
The Pre-Filing Investigation
Depending on the crime you are suspected of committing, it can often take the police or a federal agency several months of investigation to build a case in order to have enough evidence to charge you. This is especially true for white collar crimes. During this phase, police may ask you to appear for questioning or might search your property provided they have a valid search warrant.
If questioned, it is important that you have an attorney present to protect your legal rights. You have the right not to give incriminating statements that can and will be used against you if and when prosecutors decide to file charges. Having a lawyer present to advise you on what questions you should answer, if any, could be a major factor as to whether police have enough evidence to arrest you.
Reduce the Charges
Before charges are filed, your criminal defense attorney has a much greater chance to negotiate with the district attorney or prosecutor to reduce potential charges to a lesser crime. Prosecutors have much discretion in deciding what charges to file. In certain circumstances, the prosecutor may be willing to negotiate with you for your full cooperation or reduce charges in exchange for a plea to avoid going to trial. If you wait for formal charges to be filed, you will likely be arrested and this opportunity to negotiate may not be available to you.
Arrest
If the police decide to arrest you, hiring an attorney before charges are filed can help you avoid the humiliation of a public arrest. Because your attorney may be able to directly communicate with the prosecutor and the police, he or she will be the first one to know if and when an arrest warrant is issued. Your attorney will then be able to inform you, thus avoiding the embarrassment of a public arrest in front of your family or colleagues.
This will also help establish that you are being cooperative with police and less of a flight risk, which will help you when the judge is deciding your bail amount.
Bail Hearing
You have the right to a bail amount that is fair and reasonable. If you retain our law firm, by law the bail bondsman will reduce his fee from 10% of the bail amount to 8%, which could save you thousands of dollars depending on the bail amount.
Your actions and cooperation during the pre-filing investigation stage will help you maintain your freedom in the pre-trial phase of your case.
Are You Being Investigated for a Crime? Call the Criminal Defense Attorneys at Wallin & Klarich
If you or a loved one is under investigation for any crime, you need to contact an experienced Wallin & Klarich criminal defense attorney immediately.
At Wallin & Klarich, our skilled attorneys have been successfully defending clients facing both state and federal charges for over 40 years. We will meet with you immediately to review the facts of your case and plan a defense strategy that will help you get the very best outcome possible.
With offices located in Los Angeles, Sherman Oaks, Torrance, Orange County, San Diego, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura, West Covina and Victorville, there is an experienced Wallin & Klarich criminal defense attorney available to help 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.
