Criminal Investigation
Once a crime occurs, law enforcement officials work through a relatively predetermined criminal process. While every case has its own facts and nuances, the journey through the criminal justice system is similar for everyone. The greatest variation comes in the order of various stages, including the crime scene investigation, evidence gathering, questioning, an arrest, and charges.
While you may expect the entire investigation to proceed in that order, the various parts of the investigation, including questioning any suspects and making arrests, can occur at various times throughout the process. For instance, you may be arrested immediately following the occurrence of a crime and questioning and the investigation takes place after your arrest. Or, the police may investigate a crime for a period of time before you are arrested and charged with an offense.
If you have any questions about criminal investigations in regard to your or a family member’s situation, do not hesitate to call the legal team of Skeen & Robinson at 801-266-7414. We are here to fully explain your rights during a criminal investigation, protect those rights, and help you avoid or fight criminal charges.
Protect Your Rights During The Criminal Investigation Process
Once you learn that you are a suspect in a criminal investigation, you need to hire a criminal defense attorney. Law enforcement officers are not your friends and they are not there to protect your rights or look after your interests. They will twist your words, try to trick you into admitting facts that make you look bad, and can even lie to you during questioning. To protect yourself and avoid self-incrimination, you need to call Skeen & Robinson.
You always have the right to remain silent and to have an attorney during a criminal investigation, whether or not you have been arrested. The safest and smartest thing to do is to invoke these rights. To remain silent, you must actually tell the police that you are choosing to remain silent and will not answer any questions without a lawyer present.
You should not simply keep quiet because the police will continue to pester you with questions. Once you ask for a lawyer, you should call us at Skeen & Robinson directly or reach out to a family member or friend who can contact us on your behalf. We are here to aggressively protect your rights and ensure the police do not overstep their boundaries. Our goal will be to avoid criminal charges against you. However, if you are charged, we will discuss your options, including the strongest possible defenses to your case.
Schedule A Confidential Consultation
We offer a no-obligation consultation for you to discuss the details of your case openly. Use the online contact form or call 801-266-7414 to meet with the firm's highly qualified Utah criminal defense and malpractice attorneys. The firm is located in Salt Lake City at 5788 South 900 East, and represents clients in northern Utah. Our track record is evidence of our ability to produce positive results in high-pressure situations.