When you are arrested as a suspect in a crime, before you are even officially charged your first priority should be to contact a licensed and experienced criminal defense attorney. Being charged with a crime is a very serious matter, regardless of the severity of charges or penalties. Whether you are caught shoplifting a stick of gum or driving while intoxicated, a criminal record is a serious matter that requires adept legal representation.

A lawyer has the skills, resources, and professional connections to work the best possible defense against your charges in order to protect your rights and preserving your freedoms. If you want to avoid the maximum penalties for your criminal charges, you need an attorney.

Public Defense

Although you have the option of choosing a public defender, who are also real lawyers, there are numerous downfalls for going that route. There are monumental differences between a public defender and a criminal defense attorney, and several advantages in using private counsel rather than public defense. But having legal representation either way is important, so be sure to never waive your right to an attorney if you are charged with a crime.

You Can’t Represent Yourself

Thinking you can represent yourself in your criminal case is a major misconception. Anyone who does not professionally practice criminal defense is incapable of representing a criminal case successfully. There are various complexities involved, all of which vary themselves depending on the individual circumstances of the case. So taking the risk of waiving your right to counsel and losing your case can render severe short term consequences, but also ones that follow you throughout your entire life.

Criminal Charges Come With a Criminal Record

Criminal charges don’t just come with a list of penalties, like possible jail time, hefty fines, court fees, filing costs, probation, community service, suspended drivers’ license, and random drug screening. Criminal charges come with a permanent record. And a criminal record, regardless of its severity, can hold a person back from several opportunities in life, including viable employment, promotions, professional licenses, home ownership, proprietorship, governmental clearances, and much more. It can even implicate a couple’s ability to adopt a child. So it is important to handle a criminal charge it the most aggressive and sure-fire way, and that is to always take advantage of your right to hire an attorney. Never waive your right to counsel.

Indianapolis Criminal Defense

Call David E. Lewis, Attorney at Law, at 317-636-7514 if you are facing criminal charges in Indianapolis, Indiana. He is a licensed and aggressive criminal defense lawyer that will stop at nothing to protect your rights and preserve your freedoms, regardless of the crimes you are charged with. Our Indianapolis criminal defense law firm offers free initial consultations to discuss your case and the possible strategies for defense. Call 317-636-7514 to get started on yours, today.