A criminal defense lawyer
in Mesa, Arizona can guide you through the process of dealing with a weapons
charge. If this is your first arrest, you may not know what to expect from the
legal system, your attorney or what will be expected of you during this
process. For most people, the uncertainty of a situation can be the worst part
of the entire case, sometimes causing temporary bouts of anxiety and
depression. While the firm that is handling your case should be your main
guide, here are a few things to help you understand how you can help your team
defend you in an Arizona court…read on!
Terms of Release
Once you have been
released from jail, you will have been given specific terms to which you need
to strictly adhere. Most of these terms include maintaining your residence and
contact information that is on file with the court, maintaining contact with
your probation officer and following any instructions he or she puts in place
for you, notifying authorities of any changes in your personal information and
showing up to your scheduled court appearances. Your criminal defense lawyer
will also advise that you comply with these requests in order to help them
demonstrate your willingness to cooperate with the Arizona judicial system.
Court Appearances
It is highly advisable for
you to show up for all your scheduled court appearances early. There is usually
a check in process that is time consuming and finding your criminal defense
lawyer will also take a few minutes. People who show up right on time are
usually late getting to the assigned courtroom and sometimes this causes a
judgement for nonappearance if a defendant is not in the courtroom at the time
their case is called before the judge.
Don’t Overexplain
Even people who are
innocent can say the wrong thing and appear guilty. Most criminal defense lawyers
advise their clients to answer questions honestly, but to be as brief as
possible. Not only will a great deal of extraneous information be eliminated
from your testimony, but you will not appear nervous or accidentally mix up
your facts and then appear as though you are not being truthful. Keep your
answers simple and directed only at the question being asked of you.
No Surprises
Your criminal defense
lawyer and the Arizona court system do not appreciate surprises. Be as
transparent as possible during the course of your case and maintain contact
with your attorney on every issue. Do not speak to anyone from the prosecution
team, any victims or their families, or others that are involved on the case so
that there are no surprises for anyone involved. Sometimes, even the most
innocent apology or expression of empathy can become an admission of guilt and
change the course of your entire case.
For more information
about a criminal defense lawyer in Mesa AZ and weapons charges cases, call 480-507-6666 or
click on the provided link.
