A criminal prosecution usually begins with an investigation by the police, or a complaint to the police. The suspect might know about the investigation (when the police perform a traffic stop and begin to investigate for DUII), or the suspect might not know. A police officer might seek a search warrant, arrange a pretext phone call, or visit a suspect to ask questions.
If the police come to you, do not talk to them. Do not let them search your house, your car, or your clothes, body, or belongings. Refuse to talk and ask for a lawyer. Police are trained to convince people to cooperate, and they are good at it, but remember this: the police are not on your side. Your lawyer is. Even before you are charged with a crime, you need to know and assert your rights, and a lawyer can help you deal with the police or negotiate with the prosecutor’s office. If you are being investigated for a crime, or you think you might be, if the police have spoken with you or served a search warrant, you need to talk to a lawyer who can help you with the police, talk to the prosecutor’s office, and help do what needs to be done. Please feel free to call me if you have questions or need legal help.
