Astrab Legal Services is available 24 hours a day to address questions or concerns regarding criminal matters.  Please call (216) 577-0013 for a free consultation.

THE NEED FOR AN ATTORNEY

If you are being charged or have been arrested for a felony or misdemeanor offense you should immediately contact a criminal defense attorney.  Both misdemeanors and felonies carry the potential for incarceration and could cause serious issues with regard to future employment, professional licensing and receipt of government services.

Misdemeanors are less serious offenses but do carry the potential for up to a year of jail time for certain charges.  Felonies are far more serious and could result in incarceration in a state prison for periods ranging from six months up to life without parole, or in the worst case scenario, the death penalty.

It is essential that you consult an experienced criminal defense attorney as soon as possible following arrest or service of summons.  Far too often individuals underestimate the seriousness of the charges filed against them, to their ultimate detriment. 

The worst decision that an individual facing criminal charges could make is to attempt to represent themselves – Prosecutors are experienced attorneys whose sole goal is to seek justice for the citizens of the State of Ohio and they have the full resources of law enforcement to assist them in achieving their goal.  Anyone representing themselves is immediately placed on an uneven playing field and is at a strong disadvantage.

YOU’VE BEEN CHARGED WITH A CRIME – WHAT SHOULD YOU DO?

Being charged with a criminal offense beyond a simple speeding ticket is probably one of the most traumatizing events that an individual can experience.  The immediate thoughts that may come to mind might be:

• Am I going to prison?

• Am I going to lose my job?

• How will my family react?

• What should I do?

The most important thing that you should initially do is calm down, take a deep breath and collect your thoughts.  Entering into a panic state will do you nor your case any good.  Here are some suggestions:

• If you are in police custody, immediately invoke your right to have counsel present for any questioning and do not answer any questions involving your case.

• In addition to not speaking to the police about your case, do not make any comments to cell mates, jail officials or to any visitors that you may have aside from your attorney.  Anything you say can be used in a trial outside of the ‘hearsay’ rule.

• Contact a criminal defense attorney at your first opportunity for a consultation.

• Do not destroy any paperwork or other evidence relating to the charges against you (in addition to being foolish, it may also constitute additional criminal charges).  Maintain all of your records for purposes of allowing your attorney to determine what is relevant to your defense.

• Do not contact any individuals who are or who may be charged as co-defendants with you to discuss the case.  On the same token, if you are contacted by one of these individuals, do not discuss anything related to the case.  Your co-defendant could be working with the police or could use your statements against you in an effort to lessen their own exposure.

• Make reasonable efforts to get the names of potential witnesses, take pictures where relevant and safe to do so and do your best to commit to memory any comments made by law enforcement or co-defendants at the time of your arrest.