Criminal Defense: What are Your Rights?

Understanding Your Rights After an Arrest or Criminal Charge

If you have been arrested and charged with a crime, you may be wondering what, if any rights, you have. This may especially be true if you have never dealt with the criminal justice system before. You know you may be facing jail or prison time, fines, probation, community service, alcohol or drug education programs, and other court-mandated penalties. This may seen frightening and overwhelming and you may wonder if all is lost. Do you have anything in your favor?

The answer is yes. You have many rights in dealing with law enforcement as a person accused of a crime, and even as someone convicted of a crime in this country. If you are facing criminal charges in Dallas, Fort Worth, or Plano, an experienced and skilled Plano criminal defense attorney at Zendeh Del Law Firm may be your biggest asset and tool in fighting the negative consequences of a criminal charge. You should, however, be aware of the legal and constitutional rights you have to better understand the situation you are in and to ensure that those rights are maintained.

Your Rights as a Criminal Suspect or Accused

As a criminal suspect dealing with the police, you have certain rights based on the Fifth Amendment called Miranda rights. These give you the right in police interrogations to remain silent and to have an attorney present. These rights also advise you that anything you say may used against you in a subsequent trial and, that if you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed for you. You also have rights under the Fourth Amendment which protect you from unreasonable searches and seizures leading to unlawful arrests.

If you have been accused of a crime, your rights extend to a speedy and impartial jury trial, the right to counsel, the right to not be prosecuted twice for the same crime, and the right to confront any witnesses who may testify against you. If you have been convicted of a crime, you have the right to appeal and are protected from cruel and unusual punishment.

In any criminal situation, it is always in your best interests to ensure that your legal and constitutional rights are protected by a capable attorney. A Plano criminal lawyer at the Zendeh Del Law Firm can provide aggressive protection of your rights as well as an aggressive defense strategy.