Posted By Law Office of Melvin L. Vatz || 6-Apr-2017
The right to avoid incriminating yourself is crucial to our criminal justice system in the United States, and utilizing this right is crucial to obtaining a successful outcome to your case. The Supreme Court decision in Miranda v. Arizona set a precedent which says that in order to preserve this right, law enforcement must notify those they arrest of their rights that they can exercise in order to avoid incriminating themselves before questioning them. Today, these rights are known as your “Miranda rights” and you can and should utilize them to the fullest extent in order to avoid giving law enforcement any evidence against you. Let’s look at these important rights in more detail.
“You have the right to remain silent.”
This is the one most everybody who has ever seen a police drama on TV knows. This right is exactly as it sounds: you have the right to remain silent and refuse to answer any questions that may incriminate yourself. It’s very important to exercise this right if you have any doubts about how your answer will affect your case for reasons we’ll discuss now.
“Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law.”
Once police have read you your rights and you have agreed that you understand them, police may then begin questioning you and anything you say will be considered a statement that can be used as evidence against you in court.
“You have the right to an attorney.”
You have the right to refuse to answer any questions from law enforcement without legal counsel present. Simply inform law enforcement that you would like to have an attorney present and they may not ask you any questions until you have obtained one.
“If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be provided for you at no cost.”
Money can be difficult to come by for some people, so those who cannot afford an attorney’s services can request the assistance of a public defender. These attorneys are paid through taxpayer dollars as a public service and can help you seek a positive outcome from your case. However, they often do not have control over their workloads and your case may not receive the attention it needs.
Have you been arrested and accused of a crime? Attorney Melvin L. Vatz has the experience and knowledge you need to aggressively pursue a positive conclusion to your case. At the Law Office of Melvin L. Vatz, we have more than 40 years of experience helping people with their legal issues, and we understand first-hand the importance and gravity your case has on your life. Our aggressive and well-orchestrated style of defense has earned a long record of courtroom success and highly satisfied clients.
Call the Law Office of Melvin L Vatz today at 412-391-3030 to request a free case evaluation today!
Categories: Criminal Defense