The worst day of your life?
Finding out that you have been charged with a crime may be the worst thing that has ever happened to you. You might feel a desperate urge to talk about it with someone; that someone should be your lawyer. Your personal feelings might include fear, embarrassment, anger, confusion, self-blame, and feeling helpless. You might have trouble sleeping as you try to recall details of something that happened in just a few moments in time and at a time when you weren't paying close attention to what was going on around you. You may fear what will happen to you, your job, your family. The first thing you need to do is retain a lawyer. Your lawyer will understand exactly how you feel and be able to give you the advice you need to start sleeping again. Your lawyer will stand by your side every step of the way, even if everyone else has abandoned you. Your lawyer will be your best and wisest friend at a time when you desperately need a friend.
What you should not do...
Do not talk to the police until you have met with your lawyer. The police are not your friend once you have been arrested or they begin to interrogate you. The interrogation may seem like friendly conversation, but it is intended to get you to say something which may incriminate you or catch you in a lie; perhaps just a mistaken statement. Police will often sound friendly and offer to help you or state they just want to hear your side so they can get the charges dropped. The officer may even be sincere about wanting to help you. That is not a good reason to talk without a lawyer present. If the police officer wants to help you, he will still want to help you when you have a lawyer by your side. Every criminal defense attorney can share a number of stories with you about how just one simple statement to the police meant the difference between being acquitted and being convicted of a crime. Don't take the risk, no matter how tempted you feel.
Watch this video for more information:
Not enough? Watch Part 2:
D.A. "Duke" Drouillard
Drouillard Law, LLC
1603 Farnam St.
Omaha, NE 68102
Office: (402) 905-2100
Fax: (402) 905-2101
By Appointment Only
