It is never too early to contact a criminal lawyer if you are facing potential charges. Even if you are not sure if you will be facing charges but feel as though you are being accused of something, now is the time to do something about it. That starts with acting right now to contact an attorney. The good news is that with legal help, you may be able to avoid problems, including concerns related to telling the police the wrong thing or admitting guilt because you were forced to do so. Nevertheless, you should understand the process. Immediate Steps Your criminal lawyer can help you through the entire process of being charged and going through the legal criminal process. Though every state is a big different, in most cases there is a pre-file time where the police are working to collect information and to file charges. You are then arrested. You will spend some time in booking, which is an instance in which you will be entered into the computer, fingerprints are taken and you will be moved through the system. You can have an attorney with you through this process. Also important here are your Miranda rights. This is a set of statements that the arresting officer must say to you unless you waive them. In short, they give you the right to say nothing at all to the police if you feel that what you are going to say will jeopardize your well-being. You can request an attorney. If you do, anything you say after this may not be usable in a court of law. Violation of these rights is a serious charge. The Rest of the Process A criminal lawyer will work with you through the rest of the process. This includes the arraignment. This is the instance in which you will come before a judge and, if you decide, to make a plea. Keep in mind that anything you say will be used in your trial, if you get one. For that reason, you should always have an attorney by your side. If you have a trial that will come later, but your lawyers can also help you with the after misdemeanor process as well. The first and most important thing for you to do when you find yourself in a legal situation is to ask for help. Though it is always best to hire your own criminal lawyer, even having a court-appointed one by your side is better than not having one at all. For many reasons, though, it is best for you to find your own attorney who can help you through this process. If you have been or think you may be charged with a crime, you need to find a Sacramento criminal lawyer that you can trust. For more information, visit the professionals at: http://www.sacramentodefense.com.
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