When it comes to getting involved in a legal proceeding, most ordinary citizens don’t have a strong grasp of the law, how it pertains to them, and how they should be behaving given the structure of the law. When the person is dealing with the stressors and fears of criminal procedures, in particular, the confusion can get even more intense.
Anxiety abounds as it seems like your rights and freedoms are suddenly on the line as if things you thought were given elements of your existence within your country could dissolve at any moment. Fears, confusion tactics, and misleading questioning suddenly become terrifying as they could result in you losing years of your life or large quantities of money. The following will explore a few things that everyone should know about the complexities of criminal procedures.
Of course, every case is different, and this means that it’s a good idea to speak to a legal professional about your particular situation and how the law relates to what you’re going through. You’ll be able to get actionable advice that can guide you through the chaos of this process.
It Is Confusing And Complicated
First and foremost, you need to understand that the law isn’t something that a bunch of clever people got together and designed with our current society in mind. It’s an antiquated, Latin-based system that evolved over the course of hundreds of years. It’s been tweaked by precedents, altered by politicians who have never dealt with things like poverty or the threat of jail time, and added to and subtracted from countless times.
This makes it confusing. If you’re feeling lost in what a certain law could imply, you’re not alone. It takes years of study and years of practice after that for lawyers to understand how to work within the law to protect people’s best interests. Don’t for a moment think that because you don’t feel fully confident in what’s going on that you’re not intelligent. Super intelligent people struggle with the law and work with legal professionals.
You Have Rights
No matter who you are, no matter what you’ve done, no matter who you’ve spoken to, no matter what religion you practice, no matter what you look like, no matter where you live, no matter your previous records, you have rights. Everyone has the same rights, and you’re allowed to study these rights and take advantage of them. It’s important to note that these rights weren’t given to you by the law or the government.
These rights belonged to people before the law was written before the government was formed, and they will continue to be yours if the regime or law changes. You have the right to legal representation and the right to a fair trial. You are to be considered innocent until proven guilty.
You Don’t Have To Say Anything Without Speaking To A Lawyer First
Given how complicated the law is, you do not need to answer any questions or have any conversations with law enforcement without first speaking to a lawyer. Indeed, it is almost always in your best interest to keep completely silent until you’ve been given legal counsel. This will help ensure that you don’t say anything that could be misconstrued and used against you.
You Don’t Have To Accept The Lawyer They Give You
Many law enforcement offices have lawyers they can call when someone requests a lawyer. Many of these lawyers are excellent, intelligent, and hardworking people. But, it’s important to note that you do not need to accept the lawyer you’ve been given. It is within your rights to reach out to another lawyer if you feel the need to.
It is worth noting that each area of law is hyper complicated, and this means you might want to seek out a lawyer that specializes in the specific problem you’re dealing with. Further, Minneapolis Attorney suggests that you think about an attorney’s years of experience with the specific problem you’re dealing with. This will help you narrow down your choices and get started speaking to a lawyer who can offer you the legal protection you deserve.
You Need To Be Wary Of Social Media
In today’s digital world, social media is used by almost everyone to some degree. This being said, just like anything you say can be used against you in a court of law, anything you post, share, comment on, like, or interact with can be used against you by law enforcement or the legal process. Unless otherwise instructed by your lawyer, avoid social media altogether until you’re done with your legal proceeding.
The above information should help get you started when it comes to dealing with legal proceedings. Of course, it’s wise to follow your lawyer’s advice (if you don’t like the advice, you can seek out a different lawyer). It’s also a good idea to emphasize your mental health throughout the process. Having your freedom threatened or feeling like you’re being accused or interrogated of something bad can be highly traumatizing experiences. The process itself is also stressful. Find someone you can talk to and emphasize rest, hydration, exercise, and healthy food.
