For the average person, being arrested and charged with a drug related criminal offense is a frightening and confusing experience. Suddenly being stripped of your freedom, thrown in jail, and threatened with a conviction for an offense involving drugs that could negatively impact your life for years to come is enough to confuse and scare most people. As a result of that confusion and fear, people frequently make mistakes in the manner in which they handle the situation – particularly prior to hiring an attorney. While these mistakes are certainly understandable under the circumstances, mistakes you make following an arrest can have an adverse effect on the outcome of your case. With that in mind, keep in mind the following “5 Things Not to Do before You Hire a Nebraska Drug Defense Lawyer.”
Do Not Try to Talk Your Way Out of an Arrest
Basic human nature leads many people to believe they can talk their way out of an arrest. Law enforcement officers have been trained to use this basic instinct against suspects though. While you are babbling away, trying to convince the officer that this is your first time, or that the drugs in your care aren’t yours, the officer is making note of every admission you make and every scrap of relevant information that comes out of your mouth. Remember that a police officer is not your friend in this scenario. The officer’s job is to gather information and evidence relating to a crime. Once the officer has made the decision to place you under arrest the odds of you saying anything that will change his/her mind are slim to none.
Do Not Agree to a “Deal” with the Police to Avoid a Conviction
Another common mistake people make when faced with the possibility of being arrested for possession of drugs is to agree to a “deal” with the police that involves providing information or participating in future drug buys. Although the police can certainly arrest you for possession of relatively small amounts of a controlled substance, keep in mind that what the police really want is information leading to the bigger fish – the individuals who are dealing, manufacturing, and/or transporting large quantities of the drugs. Standard police procedure, therefore, is to get someone who has been caught in possession of drugs to provide that information or, better yet, lead the police directly to the bigger fish. Do not agree to any such deal without first consulting with a Nebraska drug defense lawyer for two reasons. First, as a general rule a patrol level police officer does not even have the authority necessary to make such a deal. Though these deals can sometimes be made, you need an attorney to negotiate the deal with the prosecutor. Second, providing information such as this to the police can be dangerous and should only be done after weighing the pros and cons with your attorney.
Do Not Pay a High Bond
Understandably, you want to get out of jail as soon as possible; however, you may be throwing money away if you pay the initial bond set in your case. Although the bond set in drug offense cases can be high because of the type of case, there is a good chance an experienced Nebraska drug defense lawyer can get your bond significantly reduced in a relatively short period of time. Instead of wasting money on a bond, spend that money on an attorney who can likely get the bond lowered and represent you in the actual case.
Do Not Discuss Your Arrest with Anyone Other Than an Attorney
Your right to remain silent should be exercised both in and out of jail. Do not talk to your cell mates about your case because they can be called as witnesses against you. Do not talk to the prosecutor about a plea agreement until you have spoken to an attorney. Do not run to the person from whom you purchased the drugs and tell them you were arrested either. Not only could this be dangerous if they think you talked to the police, but you could also unintentionally lead the police right to them. To keep this one simple – don’t talk to anyone about your arrest until you consul with a drug defense lawyer.
Do Not Run Away from the Problem
If you are like many people in your situation, the thought of running away may cross your mind. Do not do it! This includes literally running away by failing to appear for court as well as emotionally running away by ignoring the problem under the illusion that it will somehow magically go away. Once the prosecutor has filed criminal charges against you they are very unlikely to go away unless you retain the services of an experienced Nebraska drug defense lawyer to defend you.
Contact Us
If you have been charged with a drug offense in Nebraska contact Petersen Criminal Defense Law 24 hours a day at 402-509-8070 to discuss your case with an experienced criminal defense attorney.
Attorney Petersen was invited to join the National Advocacy for DUI Defense (NAFDD) organization in 2013. NAFDD vets thousands of lawyers and only chooses those who have achieved stellar results in DUI defense cases. Attorney Petersen was named one of the Top 50 defense attorneys in Nebraska out of more than 5,000.
Loading...