Criminal Charges in Rock Hill, SC – One of the scariest moments in someone’s life is getting arrested or otherwise being charged with a crime for the first time. Imagine this: you have been charged with a crime in Rock Hill, South Carolina. What should you do next? Who should you call? What should you say?
In this blog we will attempt to answer these questions. Like all of our blogs, this is intended for informational purposes only and not intended as a substitute for the advice and counsel of a criminal defense attorney. However, one of the things you should seek is the advice and counsel of a criminal defense attorney, but we will touch on that more later.
What should I say if I am arrested?
You should say absolutely nothing. People often want to explain the situation or “clear things up”. They think talking to the police or being “honest” with them is going to help. Not only will it not help but it will almost certainly make things much worse. Anything you say will be used against you. If that phrase sounds familiar it is because it is from the Miranda warnings that are read to a suspect upon arrest. Unfortunately make people don’t take that seriously enough.
Under the fifth Amendment of the United States Constitution, you have the right not to incriminate yourself. You also have a presumption of innocence that you can ruin, by making unnecessary statements that will be used against you. If you are charged with a crime in Rock Hill the constitution applies the same where there as it does everywhere else in the country.
Should I contact a Lawyer?
With criminal charges in Rock Hill SC, you should contact a lawyer who is licensed to practice in South Carolina. Get a consultation as soon as you can so that you can get some advice and guidance on what to do next and what kind of trouble you may be facing. Consequences and risks can be assessed pretty early on. Further, unlike talking to the police, your conversations with your lawyer are confidential and protected and cannot be used against you.
Rock Hill Criminal Courts
If you have been charged with a crime in Rock Hill, where and when you have to go to court can be a little bit confusing. There are several levels of court in South Carolina which you can read more about here.
If you have been charged with a crime and are in need of legal assistance, contact us. Gilles Law handles criminal defense in Rock Hill South Carolina, and the surrounding areas.