What You Need to Know If You are Charged With a Crime

If you are charged with a crime, you have a number of constitutional rights. Perhaps the most important one is the presumption of innocence. You are considered to be innocent until proven guilty. Not until the State proves “beyond a reasonable doubt” that you committed a crime can you be found guilty and punished.

It is the job of the police and prosecutors to try and prove beyond a reasonable doubt that you are guilty. An experienced criminal defense attorney can help protect your rights and ensure that the police and prosecutors follow the rules. For example, the police are required to explain the Miranda warnings to a suspect in custody before they are interrogated. If this procedure is not followed properly, a defense attorney may be able to prevent any evidence obtained during the questioning from being used at trial.

If you are charged with a crime, you also have the right to question the witnesses against you, object to the evidence introduced by the prosecutor, and present a defense. It is critical that you have an experienced criminal attorney who knows the rules of evidence and can help you present your case. If you or a loved one has been charged with a crime, contact the criminal defense attorneys at Alperstein & Diener, P.A. to see how they can help.