It can be frightening and distressing to be the target of a criminal investigation. You are actively being investigated prior to being taken into custody. However, neither the prosecutor nor a grand jury tasked with looking into crimes at the federal, state, and local levels have formally charged you with the crime. Some individuals mistakenly think that in order to avoid being accused of a crime during pre-arrest investigations, they must collaborate with police enforcement. But that cannot be more wrong, as you can get into greater trouble if you make a minor mistake or give a statement without a lawyer present. Everything you say can be used against you in court in Mesa. A Mesa criminal defense lawyer can help you in such cases.
When police have cause to suspect that you have broken state or federal laws, pre-arrest investigations take place. Police suspect you have breached the law even if you haven’t been officially charged. Here are some reasons to hire a lawyer for pre-arrest investigations:
Gather evidence:
The police will gather tangible evidence during their investigations that might connect you to the suspected crime. This may include items such as weapons, clothes, or fingerprints that were discovered at the crime scene or other locations connected to the crime. In order to compare your DNA with the DNA recovered at the scene, the police may additionally get DNA samples from you or the witnesses. If you have a lawyer, they can refute such allegations with evidence of their own.
Talking to witnesses:
The police will question anybody who may have knowledge about the suspected crime, including witnesses and victims. Their comments may shed light on what transpired and aid the cops in building a chronology that led to the alleged crime. The responses the police receive can also open up fresh lines of inquiry in their efforts to compile evidence against you. Your lawyer can help you by finding witnesses to support your side of the story.
Final thoughts:
The intricacy and intensity of the crime, as well as other factors, affect how long it takes the police to perform a pre-arrest investigation. The duration of the process might range from a few days to a whole year. They may advise you on what to do and what not to do, preventing the police from using the circumstances to force you to make an accusation against yourself.
