Majority Law, PC
An Oregon Alternative Law Firm
Albany, Corvallis, Cottage Grove, Eugene,
Florence, Roseburg, Salem, Springfield, Sweet Home
Criminal Defense
Every person on American soil is guaranteed certain rights under the Constitution. Most people don’t think about their rights until they are in jeopardy. Your rights give you power. They are especially valuable when you are suspected or accused of a crime.
Stand On Your Rights!
You have a right to an attorney if you are arrested. You also have a right to an attorney if you are the subject of a police investigation. If there is even a small chance that you might end up being charged with a crime, do not speak with the police until your attorney is present. Asking that an attorney be present when you are questioned is not an indication of guilt. Police officers make mistakes. Having an attorney at your side when they question you decreases the chance of a mistake and increases your chance of staying out of trouble.
You have a right to be protected against unreasonable searches of your home, your business, your car, your papers and your personal effects. Everyone knows the saying, “A man’s home is his castle.” This reflects a fundamental truth about the American legal system. You have a right to bar others, including the police, from entering your property. You have a right to stop the police from messing with your stuff. No one may enter your home, your office or your car without obtaining your permission or getting a search warrant. If the police search your stuff without permission and without a warrant, the evidence they seize may be thrown out and the charges against you may be dismissed.
What A Lawyer Will Do For You
If you have been charged with a crime, having a lawyer on your side will automatically strengthen your position. First, your lawyer will contact the prosecutor and get a clear picture of the evidence that will be used against you. Your lawyer will then sit down with you and evaluate this evidence in light of your understanding of the facts. By evaluating the evidence and the facts in light of the pertinent statutes, your lawyer will help you decide whether you should take your case to trial or consider accepting a plea bargain. If the evidence against you appears to be too strong for you to risk going to trial, your lawyer will negotiate a plea bargain with the prosecutor.
If you are under investigation, but have not yet been charged with a crime, having a lawyer on your side will cause the police and the prosecutor to be more thorough and more careful in their investigation. Having a lawyer also serves to shield you from the investigatory process. Once you have retained a lawyer, all communications with the police and the prosecutor’s office must be conducted through the lawyer.