Facing criminal charges can be the ultimate anxiety-builder. If you have been arrested and faced charges in the past, you probably already know that a criminal case can take a while to develop and progress. On top of the slow-moving court system, you may not be sure about what happens after a criminal arrest, or how much jail time might you be facing. Thanks to our criminal law department, we have put together a list of the top 11 things that can help you navigate through a criminal law case.
- Trust the process! The judicial system is slow moving; a good criminal law attorney is never not working; however, attending hearings, drafting motions, and trying to cut plea deals with the state all take time. Many pleas get escalated to the management level in in the State Attorney’s Office, so be patient while you’re waiting to hear back on a plea deal.
- Show up to court. If your attorney tells you that you need to be in court on a certain date/time, don’t show up late or miss the court date for any reason. If you suspect that the date will not work for you, tell your attorney well in advance – you do not want to get a bench warrant for missing a hearing.
- Always be honest with your attorney. Criminal defense attorneys are on your side and are trying to get you the best deal possible. If you spring a key detail on your attorney in open court, or disclose key information too late, it becomes much harder for your attorney to work with the State’s Attorney on getting you a good deal.
- Try to communicate with your attorney via email. Rather than calling, send an email; this ensures that a log of everything is kept in writing for future reference. Sometimes your attorney may be in court, or busy throughout a workday with high priority tasks. By emailing, they will have your inquiry in writing and won’t have to try recalling a conversation they had while they were doing other tasks. Email is a great way of ensuring your questions gets asked in the clearest form and you get the most accurate answer. If the attorney determines the need for a phone call, they will reach out or have their paralegal set up a call.
- Help your attorney help you! If you are offered a plea deal and it includes having to take a course, drug testing, or anything else directed by the court, please comply as promptly as possible or this could result in a criminal sentence, or even an admission of guilt.
- Be realistic with your expectations regarding the timing and length of the case, as well as the results you can get. The more convoluted the facts of a case are, the longer it will take to get through discovery and work out a plea deal with the State’s Attorney.
- Remember that there are costs associated with criminal cases that an attorney cannot negotiate. Common case expenses are court fees, fines, or donations to a charitable organization associated with your charge (mothers against drunk driving, for example), there may also be prosecution and investigation charges.
- When in doubt reach out. If you are not sure if you need to respond to something, appear at court, or pay something specific, email your attorney or paralegal right away, giving them ample time to respond to your question or concern.
- Nothing is guaranteed. With regards to criminal charges: a criminal attorney can never guarantee you anything (jail time/no jail time, the length of the case, or length of your sentencing). Like we’ve mentioned in other practice areas, it is a major red flag for any attorney to guarantee you specific results in your case.
- Have a list of possible witnesses ready for your attorney with correct contact information including address and phone number.
- Do NOT speak to any law enforcement official or prosecuting attorney without YOUR attorney present.
Going through a criminal law case is never an easy process, but a good criminal law attorney can give you the best chance at a great outcome. While there’s no way to speed up the court process or expedite a plea deal, there are things that you can do to avoid complicating your case for yourself and your attorney. By having clear communication, being transparent with your attorney, and following court dates and orders, you’ll have the best chance at successfully navigating a criminal law case. If you are facing criminal charges in Florida or Texas, please contact our office today at 305-514-0500.
