Legal Question in Criminal Law in Florida

Do I need a criminal defense lawyer?

Do I need a criminal defense lawyer?

This is the first and most important question. And the best way to answer this question may be to rely on instinct: if your gut feeling is that you should talk to a criminal defense lawyer, you probably are right � seek advice.

The main reasons prompting the need for a criminal defense lawyer are:

* You have been charged in court with a crime. This may occur following an arrest or through a summons to appear in court and answer a criminal complaint or indictment. All people have an absolute constitutional right to the assistance of a lawyer in a criminal court case.

* You have been arrested. If arrested for a potential criminal charge, a referral for criminal charge(s) may be made to the District Attorney in the county of the alleged law violation, or to the prosecutor for the federal district of the alleged violation. If an in-custody interrogation follows the arrest, the person being questioned has an absolute constitutional right to remain silent and to have a lawyer present during the questioning.

* You are being investigated for a crime. Law enforcement officers and prosecutors often contact people directly to answer questions about their alleged involvement in a crime.