A glittering metropolis of opportunity for so many, New York is an incredibly vibrant place to live. All shades of life can be found here, from the super-rich to the needy – from overseas or from the provinces of the United States. That means there’s plenty of crime and plenty of criminal cases. If you’ve found yourself accused of criminal behavior, it’s important that you know how to defend yourself and prove your innocence. That’s the purpose of this article: to show you how to defend yourself from criminal prosecution.
Understand the Charges
You’ll first be notified of criminal charges brought against you by the police. They’ll either bring you into the station for questioning, or they’ll notify you by post or on your doorstep about the case being compiled against you. It’s at this moment that you need to request all possible information and documentation pertaining to the case. You should immediately seek access to your legal recourse – which will help you understand what to say and not say under questioning from police officers. You’re entitled to a lawyer in the room with you, for instance, when you’re questioned by police.
Legal Representation
The lawyer who sits in the interview room with you or with whom you speak on the phone won’t be the lawyer who eventually organizes your defense in court. For that, you should seek experienced and reliable legal assistance – from the Law Offices of Robert Tsigler, PLLC, for instance. These New York-based lawyers will help you to get to grips with your case and prepare a robust defense that’ll have a high chance of finding you acquitted. Lawyers will also set your mind at ease about your case, telling you about the permutations you might expect.
Social Life
When you’re living under the shadow of a criminal hearing, you’ll find that it’s difficult to maintain the same social life that you had before you were informed of the proceedings filed against you. You don’t want to be seen as part of a crime surge in the US. You might find it difficult to tell your friends and family about what’s happening to you – and your legal representatives may have even warned you not to speak about your case. However, it’s important that you do find emotional support from those closest to you during these moments. They’ll help you overcome the psychological stress of your case.
In Court
If it’s decided that your case should be brought before a court of law, you’ll be asked to give evidence in a cross-examination between the barristers of the prosecution and your own barrister of the defense. Court cases can take a single day to play out or may take several weeks – it depends entirely on the nature of the case. You’ll need to organize your life in order to be punctual, presentable, and ready for anything in these days in the court. A jury can turn against you if you’re seen as flippant or uncaring about your case.
Make sure you follow the four tips outlined here in order to give yourself the best possible chance of coming out of a New York courtroom with an acquittal.
