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When You See the Government’s Evidence Against You
Understanding Your Rights During a Federal Investigation
If you haven’t been charged yet with a crime but you know you are under investigation, you won’t have access to any evidence against you. You have one resource that may help you in this case. Your criminal defense attorney can petition the federal prosecutor in order to request access to evidence against you. Your attorney may only be granted access to a small portion of any evidence that has been acquired. In most cases, this is allowed in order to arrange a plea bargain.
What to Do Once You Have Been Officially Charged
The legal rules change once you have been charged with a federal crime. You have the right to request any written documentation of your oral, written, and recorded statements. Federal investigators will supply you or your attorney with all records that they acquired during their investigation, including bank statements, text messages, recordings from a wire tap, and credit card records. You will be given access to any statements made by witnesses against you.
You Should be Given Any Proof You Did Not Commit a Crime
If the government has any proof you did not commit a crime, you have a right to see that evidence. However, prosecutors may not grant you access to that information if you have entered a guilty plea. You should not ever plead guilty at the beginning of any case. Under US law, you are innocent until proven guilty. You need to take every opportunity possible to defend yourself, including gaining access to any information acquired by investigators that can support your defense. A criminal defense attorney can help you to navigate this process.
Find a Criminal Defense Attorney to Help You Build a Defense
Being charged with a federal crime is daunting and should never be taken lightly. However, it is not the end of the world. You need to find the best in legal representation to prepare for your case. A criminal defense attorney will be your go-to resource as you face the charges that have been made against you. Make sure you find a an attorney who has specialized in cases like yours with a high success rate. Your attorney understands the law and your rights. The main goal is to make sure your rights are not violated in any way. You also need to have access to the evidence that has been compiled in order to build a case against you. Your attorney will review all of the documentation and any statements from witnesses for the prosecution. Once your attorney knows what you are up against, it will be possible to plan your defense.
Your Attorney is Here for You
Regardless of how serious the charges are against you or the mountain of evidence gathered by federal investigators, your attorney can make a difference. An excellent attorney can find loopholes that may throw out your case. If the case must proceed, your attorney may be able to arrange a plea bargain that will give you shorter jail time. In some cases, paying a fine may be in your best interest. Most importantly, your criminal defense lawyer will provide you with the reassurance that you are not alone in your fight. You will be taking a team approach to ensure you have the best possible representation. You may not be able to make your charges go away, but your attorney can help you to move forward.