Know Your Rights After a White Collar Crime Arrest

What You Need to Know After an Arrest

Being suspected of committing a white collar crime places you in a difficult position. The police or federal agents would not invest the time and resources to investigate you if they did not already think you may be guilty, and the investigation is simply aimed at gathering sufficient evidence to support a conviction. If you have been arrested, they already believe that they have enough evidence to prove your guilt. The outcome of this situation may determine the course of your future, as you could be facing a long sentence in jail or prison, restrictive terms of probation, and a criminal record which could destroy your career opportunities. The only thing that will protect you from such disastrous consequences is effective use of your legal rights.

You have a right to retain an attorney as early as possible, preferably during the investigation. A New York City white collar crimes attorney can intervene on your behalf, contacting the investigators to determine whether you have been mistakenly named as a suspect, and it may be possible to resolve the situation at this point. If investigators have requested you to come in for questioning, you should inform them that you have hired an attorney and refer them to Hochheiser & Hochheiser LLP. The Fifth Amendment secures your right against self-incrimination, and having an attorney speak on your behalf is the best way to exercise this right. If you go into the precinct for questioning, you most likely will not come out, as the police probably intend to arrest you regardless of what you say.

If you do have to submit to questioning, bringing your attorney with you can make all the difference in the world. Police officers are legally allowed to lie to you during questioning, and faced with the honed tactics of an experienced investigator, you may have a difficult time avoiding self-incriminating statements or a false confession, which is one of the leading causes of wrongful conviction in this country. Your attorney will speak for you when necessary, advise you of how to answer and tell you when to "plead the Fifth" and remain silent.

Helping You Defend Your Rights

Another significant factor in a white collar crime case is your Fourth Amendment right against unreasonable search and seizure. If the police violated this right by conducting a search without probable cause or a warrant, the evidence against you could be dismissed. Your attorney will review all aspects of the situation to discover the most effective strategy for defending you, and will stand by you to protect your rights as the case progresses. The Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments both provide your right to due process, and this makes it possible for your attorney to demand to see the evidence against you to discover weaknesses in the case, to cross-examine witnesses in court and to present your own witnesses.

The firm has more than 60 years of combined experience defending people in your position, and they are broadly recognized as being among the finest criminal defense attorneys in the city. Call now or visit the office for a confidential consultation and to learn more about your rights in the situation. You deserve to have somebody on your side, fighting to defend your future.

When you are under investigation for a white collar crime, contact Hochheiser & Hochheiser LLPfor aggressive defense of your rights.