When you are being put under arrest, it is easy to feel intimidated by a law enforcement officer. However, you must remember that you do not have to answer their questions or make a deal with them if you do not feel comfortable doing so. This is thanks to your Miranda rights. Follow along to find out how you can utilize your Miranda rights to your advantage and how a proficient Morristown criminal defense lawyer at Graves Andrews, LLC can come to your aid.
How can I best utilize my Miranda rights to my advantage?
Before all else, you must fully understand the Miranda rights provided to you as a United States citizen. Your rights read as follows:
- You have the right to remain silent.
- Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law.
- You have the right to an attorney.
- If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be provided for you.
- If you decide to answer questions now, you will still have the right to stop answering until you talk to an attorney.
This means that, upon being arrested, you do not have to admit guilt to a law enforcement officer. In fact, it is in your best interest to not disclose anything at all until you speak with a criminal defense attorney. After these discussions, you may discover whether it is better to plead guilty or not guilty to committing a crime.
But say, for instance, that you accidentally admitted guilt; and you were not read these rights by a law enforcement officer before their questioning. Rest assured, your confession may not be brought forward as evidence in your case. With this, your charges may be dismissed altogether.
Should I ever plead guilty to committing a crime?
Although it may not seem like it, sometimes it is to your benefit to simply plead guilty to a crime. This is because, ultimately, this allows you to avoid jury trial proceedings. This means that you may escape the hefty expense that comes with trial proceedings (i.e., attorney fees, expert witness fees, court fees, etc.), along with the extensiveness of its timeline. There also comes the uneasiness of not knowing what the verdict is going to be.
Instead, you may consider entering a plea bargain. With this, you and your attorney may negotiate a lesser charge and sentence with the prosecution. This is a wise route to take if you and your attorney determine that the prosecution likely has insurmountable evidence pointing to your guilt in the matter.
At the end of the day, you must take the accusations placed against you seriously. So pick up the phone and call a talented Morristown criminal defense lawyer today. Someone at Graves Andrews, LLC will be happy to answer.
