What Should I Do if I Am Falsely Accused of a Crime?
If you are suspected of a crime, there are ways in which you can proactively demonstrate your innocence while following your defence attorney's recommendations.
When someone is accused of a crime they did not commit they need to act immediately to protect their rights. Innocent people are falsely accused of crimes they did not commit more than the criminal justice system would like to admit and that’s why it’s important to take the following steps when you’ve been falsely accused of a crime:
Steps to Take for Those Falsely Accused
If you have been falsely accused or charged with a crime, accusation law experts recommend that you contact a criminal defence lawyer as soon as possible. Criminal defense professionals also suggest that you consider:
- Being proactive and taking these accusations very seriously. An experienced criminal defence lawyer could intervene in your case before charges are filed and provide information to criminal justice officials that could convince them that you are not a suspect.
- Making a list of possible witnesses and getting their contact information could support your alibi and they may have vital information about your case. Eyewitnesses aren’t a foolproof way to prove guilt or innocence but they can corroborate stories and help the criminal justice system accurately find the perpetrators.
- Conducting a thorough investigation by gathering all the physical evidence about your case. Clothing, photos, videos, and other physical objects can be important for proving innocence for those falsely accused. Also, take note of the evidence from the crime scene that you may not have access to such as objects, documents, blood, bullet casings, or weapons used in the crime.
- Making records and gathering important documents that may confirm your alibi can be very useful for protecting your rights. Emails, messages, letters, financial or legal records, when the crime is financial or business-related, as well as phone and GPS records, could be timestamped and used as evidence that you have been accused falsely.
New York False Accusations
Reports released by the Innocence Project found that New York, Texas, and Illinois have overturned more wrongful convictions than all other states. The reports concluded that there are problems with the state criminal justice system and that’s why in April 2012 the New York State Attorney General instituted the Conviction Review Bureau (CRB) in the New York Office of Attorney General (OAG). The CRB is a New York State initiative to address the issues related to wrongful convictions by partnering with law enforcement by finding perpetrators while reducing penalisations for those who are innocent.
Protect Yourself From False Accusers
Understanding what not to do is also an important way to protect yourself from false accusations. When you’re falsely accused of a crime, committing the following acts could harm your case:
- Speaking with those involved in your cases like victims, witnesses, and law enforcement without your lawyer present. An adept criminal defence lawyer can help clients win their cases and also offer protections including advising their clients on what information to divulge to others and when to do so. The information that you provide to others can and will be used against you in the court of law and that’s why it’s important, especially when being accused of crimes that you did not commit, to only provide information to law enforcement that supports your innocence, and corroborates your alibi.
- The criminal justice system cannot convict someone of a crime without evidence and that’s why it’s important not to tamper or destroy the evidence in your case. Destroying evidence can make you appear more suspicious and cause others to question the merits of your actions. This doubt is not good for your case and that’s why it’s important to gather evidence without destroying it.
If you’ve been falsely accused of a crime, then accusation law experts would urge you to contact experienced criminal defense attorneys today to schedule a free consultation and learn how they can provide support, help clear your name, and collaborate with others to exonerate you while bolstering the capture of the perpetrators.
