What Do I Do if I’ve Been Falsely Accused of a Crime in New Jersey?

It may be unfathomable to be accused of a crime you did not commit nor had anything to do with. Complicating matters, you have no guarantee that law enforcement will dismiss your charges or that a jury will acquit you. It is an unfortunate reality that being falsely accused can and does happen. You need to take immediate action to protect yourself if you are falsely accused of a crime in New Jersey. For more information on what you should do if you have been falsely accused of a crime in New Jersey, please continue reading, then contact an experienced Mercer County criminal defense lawyer today. Here are some questions you should be asking yourself:

How serious are these charges?

Even though you are innocent, you need to understand the seriousness of the offenses and the potential consequences you could face if the police, prosecutor, judge or jury do not see the case your way. You can make better decisions and take more appropriate actions that will increase your chances of an acquittal if you take the charges seriously from the beginning.

Is a good New Jersey criminal defense lawyer expensive?

It may seem unjust that you have to spend money to pay for the attorney fees, investigations and expert witness fees. However, the rest of your life is at risk, so you should do everything in your power to build a strong defense.

Can you intervene before charges?

A skilled criminal defense lawyer may take proactive measures that could prevent you from being formally charged. By discussing your case with the police or prosecutor, your lawyer may provide information that convinces them that they have the wrong person.

Should you always take action after being charged with a crime in New Jersey?

In some scenarios, your lawyer may advise you to do nothing to see if the prosecutor manages to develop sufficient evidence to formally charge you and bring your case to trial. The prosecutor may decide against charging you if a witness recants his or her testimony or test results support your innocence.

What types of evidence should you gather for a criminal defense lawyer?

You want to collect as much exculpatory physical evidence and documentation as you can, including:

• Clothing
• Photographs
• Correspondence
• Emails
• Receipts
• GPS data

Should you ever accept a plea bargain if you are innocent?

It may be unjust, but sometimes innocent people plead guilty to a lesser charge to avoid a conviction, harsher sentence and permanent criminal record. Before you do so, your lawyer will conduct an investigation and review the evidence against you. If they deem it to be in your best interests, they can advise you to accept a plea bargain or enter into negotiations.

Douglas Herring, Esq. is here to help you if law enforcement has falsely accused you of a crime.

CONTACT A MERCER COUNTY CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAWYER

If you face a criminal matter, contact The Law Office of Douglas Herring to schedule your initial consultation.