If you are falsely accused of any crime, it is a painful experience, but when it is a sex crime, the negative connotation added can further destabilize the situation. If you find yourself in this situation, there are some things that you should do and others that you should avoid.
This post will guide you through this challenging time in your life and hopefully allow you to emerge from it with as minor damage to your reputation as possible. Note that this post is not meant as legal advice, and you should always speak to a professional lawyer before taking any action.
What Is A Sex Crime?
The term “sex crime” is a broad definition that encompasses a wide range of offenses. The definition of what constitutes a sex crime depends on various factors. Some crimes are considered sex crimes solely because they involve sexual contact without consent. Other crimes may be regarded as sex crimes because they violate specific other laws about sexual conduct or because they are motivated by a sexual desire.
According to this Sex Crime Law Firm Wichita lawyers, a sex crime can mean many things, including rape, human trafficking, child pornography, prostitution, and many more. If you are not adequately represented, it can make your life a living hell, regardless of whether you are guilty or not. So with this in mind, what steps should you take and not take regardless of your crime.
DO Exercise Your Right To Silence
No matter what crime you have been accused of, your first step should be to call your lawyer or agree to speak with a court-provided attorney. If you find yourself in the police station, you will be pressured to talk by the detectives interviewing you, but under no circumstances should you talk apart from declaring your right to silence. The police should have already read you your rights, and no matter how hard they press, you should only tell them that you will only speak with a lawyer present.
When sitting in the police station interview room, you are probably terrified and wondering what happened to get you to this point. Police detectives are highly-trained at interviewing techniques and will jump on this opportunity to get you to talk. You should NEVER speak to them without an attorney present.
You will find the detectives attempting to make small talk with you to break the silence, but you shouldn’t give in. This small talk is simply a tactic for them to break your barrier and dig deeper. Anything you say outside of declaring your right to silence can be used against you in court and could severely scupper your chances of a fair trial.
DO Get A Lawyer Specializing These Crimes
If you are in the police station, you might be assigned a court-appointed attorney who will sit in on your interview. This is fine at the initial stages as they will help deflect any questions the police might direct at you. They should be in your corner, and at this stage, it is essential that they simply keep you from speaking. However, you should contact a law firm specializing in sex crimes as soon as possible. They will have the experience and contacts to resolve your case in a timely and effective manner. They might even be able to get you compensation once proven innocent.
DON’T Go For The Cheapest Option
You might be tempted to look for an affordable law firm or one that doesn’t specialize in these crimes to save money. However, you should avoid this, and just because you know that you are innocent, you will need the very best lawyers behind you to prove your innocence (unless you have a solid alibi or proof of your innocence). Also, it should go without saying that you shouldn’t defend yourself in court.
DO Get Emotional Support From Your Close Friends And Family
An accusation of any crime, let alone a sex crime, can be a harrowing experience and elicit a great deal of emotional pain. Therefore, you should turn to those closest to you for emotional support. They can help you to remain steadfast and keep you from doubting yourself. It is easy to become disillusioned with your life when this happens, but with the support of those closest to you, you can come out the other side with your head held high.
DON’T Speak About Your Specific Case
Although you can receive emotional support from your loved ones, you should refrain from discussing the details of the case. If details leak, you may find yourself in a wide range of legal issues that you don’t want to deal with right now.
It can be a terrifying and confusing time if you find yourself accused of a crime you didn’t commit. A sex crime can even damage your reputation if you don’t act fast enough to clear your name. If you follow some of the do’s and don’ts in this post, you should get through it successfully.
Disclaimer: This article is NOT legal advice.
Featured image: Unsplash (David von Diemar).
