Having a criminal record can significantly impact your life. Not only does it potentially stand in the way of you getting a job, but it can also make it challenging to rent a home. Employers often conduct criminal background checks before hiring new staff. When the record is for violent offenses, you might not be considered for the role despite your job qualification or years of experience. Similarly, landlords are usually reluctant to let people with criminal records become their tenants.

Furthermore, getting a credit card or loan to finance a business, home, or car can become problematic after a conviction. This is because financial institutions are often unwilling to extend credit or lend money to people with such backgrounds. And the social stigma of being labeled a convicted criminal can be disheartening.

Although the legal system is meant to acquit those who are innocent and punish wrong-doers to the full extent of the law, it isn’t always perfect. As a result, we find cases where innocent people are serving punishment for crimes they didn’t commit while the real assailants run free or get away with a warning. This article will show you essential steps to take when you’re charged with a criminal offense to ensure your case results in the best possible outcome for you.

Know Your Rights and Stand by them.

When someone files a charge against you, the first and best thing to do is to maintain your rights. Being accused doesn’t take away your rights to adequate legal representation and a fair, speedy trial. Unless proven guilty, you are considered innocent in the eyes of the law, so you mustn’t let anyone intimidate you into doing or admitting anything you don’t want to. Otherwise, you might implicate yourself in the process and ruin your chance at a fair trial.

So, if an officer of the law states what you’re being charged with and goes ahead to arrest you, don’t resist arrest. It is a crime to resist arrest. Remain calm and cooperate with the officers to avoid additional charges being laid on you and to prevent any injuries to yourself or the arresting officer.

Take Advantage of Bail Bonds

If you are arrested and sent to jail, your loved ones might need to post bail on your behalf to secure your release until your trial date. However, the bail amounts for criminal offenses are often too high for people’s families to afford. That’s where the help of a bail bond contract would be valuable.

According to Fianzas, a bail bonds company, ‘’A bail bond contract is an agreement between the person who was arrested, the court, and the bail bondsman who is licensed by the state and guarantees the court that a defendant will appear for trial as scheduled in exchange for his or her release from jail in the meantime.’’ Bail bond services can help family members of the accused get the money they need upfront instead of letting their loved ones sit in jail awaiting trial. You must comply with all the conditions imposed for your release. Breaking such an agreement can put you at risk of an additional charge, which can land you in jail.

Talk to Your Attorney

Investigation into the details of a violent crime case is usually complex, with several factors playing a role in how the judge or jury sees your case. They include eyewitness statements, forensic evidence, and previous criminal convictions. To help you understand the charges against you and the circumstances surrounding them, you need the help of an experienced attorney who is familiar with the fact-gathering processes in violent crime charges.

You must be completely honest with your criminal defense lawyer so that they can get the information needed for the charges against you to be dropped or for a negotiation. For instance, a good lawyer with all the information from their client may be able to prove to the court beyond doubt that you acted in self-defense. They may also show that you never had a crime intent when the incident that led to the charge occurred or that the crime never took place.

Refrain from discussing your case with others 

Never discuss the specifics of your case with anyone besides your lawyer. The attorney-client privilege prevents them from using whatever you disclose against you. You may be tempted to tell your side of the story to family members and close friends so that they can see things your way and support you. But this is not a wise choice. Whatever you tell them can be used against you in court.