Four Tips on What to Do If You Are Arrested

Four Tips on What to Do If You Are Arrested

It happened. You find yourself unexpectedly either behind bars in a local jail or being cited into a local court in either Santa Maria, Santa Barbara, Lompoc or San Luis Obispo. Attorney Paul Greco has traveled up and down the Central Coast visiting various courthouses and has some immediate tips to help you.

First, begin taking detailed notes about your arrest immediately or as soon as practical. Do not share these notes with anyone except your attorney. You might want to consider purchasing an inexpensive notebook at a local discount store. These notes will help you keep a clear recollection as to the events and what happened during your arrest. The court process does not usually move quickly and your memory may start to fade as you begin to piece your life back together. Think of it this way. Law enforcement will write a detailed police report about their version of events and investigation. They may or may not have had body cameras and video equipment recording your arrest. Your notes will be your own personal version of a police report in which to provide to the attorney you hire. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a traffic ticket, misdemeanor or even a felony arrest, the sooner you start writing, the better.

Second, try to get a hold of friends and family. In the trying process of the criminal justice system, you are going to need a support network to help you cope with the trauma of the judicial system. They can help you with bail, child care or transportation issues if your license becomes suspended because of the DUI arrest. You can accomplish a lot more working with a team of caring individuals then trying to fight your arrest alone. An arrest and prosecution can affect many different aspects of your life including employment. The sooner you bring committed and supportive people onto your team to address the arrest the better off you are going to be.

Third, do not talk about the specifics regarding your arrest or case with anyone until you hire an experienced attorney. This may seem difficult based on the fact that your life has been turned upside down with an arrest. Still, each person you talk to regarding your arrest another than your attorney could be used as a witness against you. Likewise, do not post details of the situation onto social media such as facebook, twitter, instagram etc. These platforms are designed to communicate information far and wide in the local community. Information harmful to your defense could be immediately spread well beyond your control.

FOUR... Finally, begin the process of finding an experienced local attorney as soon as you can. A local attorney can begin assembling the information your have taken down and start putting a plan together. Moving quickly to find an attorney can be critical to the outcome of the case as well. For instance, with a DUI arrest, you have only 10 days to contact the DMV to request and Administrative Per Se (APS) hearing. If you do not, then you will waive your right to fight your license suspension after being arrested for driving under the influence. Likewise, a local attorney can assist you in trying to locate witnesses to assist in your defense right after your arrest. Critical physical evidence may disappear if it’s not immediately preserved by the defense. Often, with proper investigation by a local attorney, you may be able to convince law enforcement or the district attorney to decline to prosecute your arrest entirely.

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Paul Greco Law| lawyer | Criminal Law | Civil Law

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