What Should You Do If You’re Accused of a Crime You Didn’t Do?
There are few situations in life where you’ll feel more helpless than when you’re accused of a crime you didn’t commit. It’s scary, frustrating, and heartbreaking. And, if you aren’t careful, the emotions of the situation can be so intense that you give up hope.
But in spite of this, you have to hold on and be smart in your response. This can mean the difference between being vindicated and being unjustly punished.
Wrongful Accusations: More Common Than Most Realize
The American justice system is predicated on the idea that you are innocent until proven guilty. Not only that, but you have the right to sit before a jury of your peers where your accuser must convince each of the jurors that you are guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. In other words, the onus is on the accuser to prove that you committed a crime.
Yet, despite this, why does it always feel like the accused is the one who has to prove something? For some reason, people operate under the assumption that the person who is accused has to supply all of the evidence? Why is guilt so often assumed?
Those are deep, philosophical questions that we would have to explore in another article. But the consequences are clear. While tough to know an exact number, researchers believe between 2 percent and 10 percent of convicted individuals in US prisons are innocent. This is underscored by the fact that 2,666 people have been exonerated in the US since 1989. And out of 100 people who are sentenced to death, four are likely innocent (yet just two will get exonerated).
These statistics aren’t meant to scare you. Instead, they explain the fact that wrongful accusations are serious and can’t be taken lightly. You can’t assume that the truth will shine through on its own. It’s not the way the justice system is supposed to be, but it’s up to you to prove your innocence or risk becoming part of an unfortunate statistic.
3 Steps You Should Take
As you deal with the shock of being wrongfully accused, here are several steps you should take to begin digging yourself out of this mess:
- Find a Lawyer
The very first step is to find a lawyer. While the court can appoint a public defender to your case, it’s highly recommended that you go out and find your own private attorney. Yes, it will cost you, but it could be some of the best money you ever spend.
Don’t let your innocence cloud your judgment on whether or not to hire a lawyer. Because, at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter what you know – it matters what the judge and jury believe.
“Even if you think that the judge will believe that you are innocent, you should never take this chance alone,” says attorney Brad C. Richardson.
There’s so much about the legal system that the average person isn’t prepared for. From documents and processes to how you word things and the way you present your defense, you can’t rely on yourself or an inexperienced and apathetic public defender to do it for you. It’s imperative that you hire a skilled criminal defense lawyer from the start.
- Gather Evidence
Once you have an attorney, one of the first things they’ll want to do is gather evidence. You will be their greatest supporter in this process. Be as detailed as possible when explaining the situation to your attorney. Mention everything you know or remember. Again, the onus is on the plaintiff to supply evidence of your guilt, but never assume. Gather your own evidence to support your innocence.
- Practice Restraint
It’s easy to feel angry and bitter with a wrongful accusation – and you are certainly just in those feelings. But it’s imperative that you practice a high degree of restraint during your case. Whatever you do:
- Don’t go on a social media posting tirade
- Don’t confront your accuser
- Don’t spend hours on the phone venting to friends
The best thing you can do is stay quiet and let your attorney work. During this time, work on self-care. This means eating well, sleeping a lot, and avoiding alcohol and other unhealthy habits.
Control What You Can Control
Those three steps might not seem like very much. In fact, it might seem as if you should be doing more. But in reality, finding a lawyer, working together to gather evidence, and practicing restraint are the three most important steps you can take. This is the definition of taking action without overstepping. And assuming your lawyer is skilled, everything else should take care of itself.
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