Why It Is Vital To Hire A New Jersey Criminal Lawyer When Accused Of A Crime

By Donna Murray


At any given time law enforcement agencies are investigating many thousands of people suspected of criminal activities and numerous arrest are made annually. The vast majority of these people are ordinary citizens that lead ordinary lives. Being arrested or investigated is a very serious affair with many possible long term consequences. Anyone in such a situation should immediately hire the services of a competent New Jersey criminal lawyer.

When arrested certain rights are automatically invoked. One of these rights is to refuse to answer official questions or to make a written statement until an attorney is present. Most legal experts agree that it is best to exercise these rights. Arrested individuals are often stressed and nervous and they are apt to say things that will only harm their cases in the court. They mistakenly think that their cooperation will count in their favour.

The first priority of the attorney will be to ascertain the facts of the case against his client. The authorities have no choice but to make these facts known to the attorney. He will also consult with his client to gain a balanced view on the matter. The attorney will be present when the accused make a statement and he will make sure that the rights of his client are upheld at all times.

The next priority of the attorney will be to arrange bail for his client. In some instances, this can be achieved within a few hours. The accused will have to be informed of the conditions of bail, which often include that he stays within a certain area, report to the police regularly and hand in his passport. He is not allowed to contact any witness or other party involved in the case either.

The consequences of not complying with the conditions of bail can be extremely serious. The accused can face additional charges, he will be arrested once more and he will be kept in custody until his case can be heard. He will lose his bail money and he will not be eligible for bail again. It is therefore very important to comply with the conditions of bail meticulously.

The importance of being absolutely honest with the attorney simply cannot be overemphasized. Clients often lie to their attorneys or omit important facts because they feel embarrassed or they are scared of implicating themselves. The relationship between the attorney and his client is confidential and it is impossible for the attorney to prepare a proper defence if he does not have all the facts, however unsavoury, at hand.

Due to overwhelming case loads that the courts experience attorneys are often able to reach a plea bargain with the prosecutor. The accused plead guilty and a sentence is agreed between the attorney and the prosecutor. The court will then approve this agreement and the entire matter can be finalized without the accused having to appear in open court.

There is no money to be saved by representing oneself in a criminal case. The legal system is extremely complicated and without professional help accused individuals are in great danger of falling foul of the system. The only course of action is to appoint a legal representative that is both qualified and experienced in defending clients accused of criminal offences.




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