Criminal Defense · 5 min read
If you are contacted by investigators
The basic protections available and the decisions that most affect the outcome of an investigation.
You may decline to answer
Being cooperative and being silent are not opposites. You may politely decline to answer questions and state that you wish to speak with a lawyer first.
Statements are permanent
Informal conversations are written up and used later. Well-meant explanations given without counsel are a common source of avoidable harm.
Preserve, do not destroy
Deleting messages or documents after learning of an investigation can create a separate and often more serious problem.
Get counsel early
The most useful work in a criminal matter often happens before charges are filed, when the direction of an investigation can still be influenced.
This article is general information only and is not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship.