Would hiring a lawyer make me look guilty?
When a police officer is accused of a crime, the first thing they do is hire a lawyer, innocent or not. A person accused of criminal activity looks responsible, intelligent, and serious about their defense.
Would a judge and law enforcement believe I must be guilty if I hire a criminal defense lawyer?
No. There may be a small percentage of people in public at large who assume you are guilty if you hire a lawyer, but anyone involved in the criminal justice community will believe you are doing the smart thing. If a police officer found out their child was suspected of a crime, rest assured their first phone call would be to the best criminal defense lawyer they know. The same goes for prosecutors, judges, and lawyers. Anyone who faces an investigation should be represented by well-known, reputable, and highly respected counsel. There are many naïve and hypocritical people. Misleading myths and beliefs should not prevent you from doing what needs to be done to be protected. Hiring a lawyer does not make you look guilty; it makes you look serious about your innocence, reputation, and future.
You cannot be arrested or convicted for looking guilty. You can be charged and convicted if there is sufficient evidence against you. An experienced, savvy defense lawyer can help you avoid charges, and hiring a lawyer immediately is in your best interest.
Will the officer in charge of my case be mad at me for hiring a lawyer?
Evidence is evidence. Evidence does not know you have hired a lawyer. The fact is that any police officer who genuinely believes you must be guilty because you hired a lawyer is probably not well-suited to be a police officer. After all, they would be naïve, petty, and ignorant, and yes, hypocritical. In all practicality, no one in law enforcement believes this to be true. Would a police officer who honestly believes a person is responsible for a crime be a bit irked that they could not easily steam roll over an unprotected suspect? Perhaps. But they would certainly not blame you for hiring a lawyer, and no police officer would truthfully say hiring a lawyer makes you look guilty. Secretly, they would think you were foolish if you didn’t hire a lawyer.
Importantly, the fact that you hired a lawyer will in no way enable the police to seek more charges against you or “hammer” you harder. The case does not get stronger against you if you hire a lawyer, and it very well may get stronger if you don’t. You may make statements that you believe will exonerate you but which actually hurt you. Many unrepresented suspects have thought they could “explain” to the police their side of the story and lived to regret it when they later see how their comments were twisted out of context or were misinterpreted. Remember, what you say “can and will” be used against you, not “may” be used against you.
Here is an example: “Officer, I swear the Vicodin pill you found in my pocket wasn’t mine. It was my friend’s. I was going to give it back to him but just haven’t had the chance to do so yet.” Summary? You have just confessed to possession with intent to deliver controlled substances.
If I am innocent, why would I need an attorney?
It would be great if we lived in a utopia with perfect justice, police officers that never make mistakes, evidence that is never misinterpreted, and where people never lie or exaggerate. Everyone knows that mistakes are regularly made even in the great American judicial system, innocent people are sometimes charged, people are sentenced to cruel and excessive punishments, and prosecutors and police handle every case with bias and an interest in securing a conviction, rather than administering justice.
If you are innocent, it is critical that you have a top lawyer to protect and defend you. Although anything you say “can and will” be used against you, your attorney can speak for you without a risk that someone will misinterpret something said and later use it as evidence against you. Additionally, a proactive and intelligent attorney will take measures to procure, secure, and preserve evidence that may be favorable or corroborate your claim of innocence.
If charges are being considered against someone wrongfully accused, a skilled, adept attorney can sometimes turn things around with the government and prevent felony or misdemeanor charges from ever going to court.
The bottom line…
You cannot be concerned with how it may look if you hire a lawyer. If you face a criminal investigation, it is no time to be proud or worry about what anyone thinks. It is no time to attempt to be friendly, forthcoming, and cooperative with the police. It also is no time to attempt to explain your side of the story. The bottom line is this: You can’t be bothered with what a tiny minority of naïve and hypocritical people think. You must protect yourself by hiring the right criminal defense firm. Would you rather have some ignorant person think you may have done something wrong or, in the alternative, would you rather face a wrongful charge that could have been prevented? It is an easy choice.
LEWIS & DICKSTEIN, P.L.L.C., the right criminal defense firm
The dedicated, experienced, and zealous defense attorneys at LEWIS & DICKSTEIN, P.L.L.C. have successfully represented thousands of clients under investigation for state and federal felony and misdemeanor charges in Oakland, Macomb, Wayne, Washtenaw, and Livingston Counties and in federal courts throughout Michigan. We have a well-earned reputation for providing the highest quality defense and aggressive representation, while showing empathy and care for each client.
If you are unsure whether you need an attorney or a lawyer, we can help you understand your options. Call us today, and we will contact you promptly. Being too proud to take responsible measures to protect yourself can have devastating, lifelong consequences. Don’t take chances with your freedom and future.
Call us today at (248) 263-6800 for a free consultation or complete a Request for Assistance Form. We will contact you promptly and find a way to help you.
We will find a way to help you and, most importantly,
we are not afraid to win!
