What to Do When You Have Been Arrested

If you have been arrested or charged with a crime in Ohio, there are some mistakes that Ohio criminal lawyers see all the time. It’s best to prevent these mistakes instead of trying to find your way out of them later.

Most of us will be lucky enough to never been charged or arrested for a crime. Sometimes we may find ourselves in sticky situations or on the wrong side of the law. It’s important to remember how to react if you have been arrested. It is always better to prepared.

Ohio criminal defense lawyers know that law enforcement must move very quickly. Often this is essential to solving a crime. For you, it is essential that you have an understanding of the events that will occur or should have occurred before, during, and after a charge has been filed against you.

Here are some simple steps:

1. Do the police have a warrant?

If the police have a warrant for your arrest, they will find you, deliver the warrant, and then arrest you. After your arrest, the police will take you to the police station. You will be fingerprinted and assigned a police file or “booked” for your criminal offense. After you are booked for your alleged crime, you may spend some time in a jail cell awaiting bail or your first hearing with a judge.

2. What happens in jail?

During the arrest and booking process, the police will likely permit you to make a phone call. You can call a family member to bail you out, or you can contact your Ohio criminal defense lawyer.

3. What about your first hearing?

Your first hearing is often when you or your criminal defense attorney will make your first plea. If you have been charged with a felony or some kind of serious crime, you should take the advice of your criminal attorney on how to plea. Even if you know you are guilty, you can still enter a not guilty plea if the Prosecution lacks enough evidence to convict you. After this, a trial date will be scheduled. If you plea guilty, you skip a trial and move to your sentencing.

4. What happens if I go to trial?

If your case goes to trial, you may not be able to post bail depending on the seriousness of the crime. In this case, you have to wait until the trial is over. If your criminal defense attorney wins your trial, you will be immediately released from custody.

For more information on Ohio criminal defense law, please contact our law firm toll-free at 877-221-0913.

By Yavitch & Palmer Co., L.P.A | Posted on March 17, 2010

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FAQs

Q: What kinds of crimes go to trial?

Answer

Any case can go to trial. Although we often see the most serious matters in trial, that is not always the case. Sometimes the more serious offenses carry the risk of greater consequences. We commonly have trials on all matters, including OVI, traffic, and complex criminal cases.

Q: How likely is it my case will go to trial?

Answer

Trials are rare, with just 2.5% of Ohio criminal cases in common pleas court going to trial in 2012. Most cases resolve by plea negotiations. However, every case is unique and you need a lawyer to help you figure out all your available options.

Q: What’s the difference between a civil law and a criminal law?

Answer

Civil law deal with disputes between individuals, organizations or both. Yavitch & Palmer deals with criminal law— crimes and legal punishments of criminal offenses, like assault, robbery, drug trafficking and much more.