Every form of contact with law enforcement could hurt you in the long run. This is true of even the most innocent, brief, or apparently superfluous forms of contact.
By going over the ways in which an attorney can guide you through police contact and searches, while speaking with a Chicago criminal defense lawyer, it may be easier for you to obtain the legal outcome you are seeking.
What Is Police Contact, And What Are Police Searches?
Police contact is when the police contact you in any manner. Some of the different ways the police may contact you are as follows:
- A police officer might knock on your door under the pretense of “just asking a few brief questions.”
- A police officer might contact you and ask you to go in for a “quick interview.”
- A police officer might call you and do so under the pretense of “needing you to clear something up.”
Everything you say to a police officer can, and will, be used against you in a court of law. And, for this reason, engaging with any of the above, without the presence of an attorney, is never wise.
Police searches are when the police search a particular place or piece of property – among other possibilities – with, in most cases, the intention of gathering evidence that can be used against you. Some examples are as follows:
- A police officer asks to search your car so they can “clear things up.”
- A police officer asks to “take a look around” your house.
- A police officer asks to search your backpack, among other forms of personal property.
The evidence obtained through a police search can be used against you. And, if you consent to a search, you may not be able to contest the results of this search in court. This can lead to a less-than-desirable legal outcome.
How Can Police Contact And Searches Cause Problems For You?
Everything you say to a police officer can be used as evidence against you. And, as a result of this, anytime you have contact with the police, you may be creating new evidence that supports the charges against you.
Just as an example, if a police officer mentions the victim of a crime and jokes that they were a “jerk,” and you joke back and say “they were a huge jerk,” this can be used to suggest that you were responsible for that person’s victimization. This is true, even if you were just joking.
The above is also true of police searches. If a police officer finds anything, they can use that against you. And, it doesn’t have to be related to the initial charges, either; what they find could lead to new charges.
Here is one example of the above: a police officer asks to search your car in order to “clear things up.” You consent, although you usually don’t have to. The officer finds residue and claims it is cocaine. You are charged with the possession of cocaine, on top of the other charges against you. All of this complicates an already difficult situation.
What Can An Attorney Do To Help You?
Your Chicago defense lawyer can inform you of your rights every step of the way. Doing so can prevent you from agreeing to a conversation or search that makes your situation far more difficult than it should be.
On top of that, you can have the police go through your attorney instead of going through yourself. This makes it much easier for you to avoid saying/revealing anything that will hurt you, which can help you obtain the best possible outcome.
Get Qualified Legal Help Today
If you need representation for a criminal charge, Glasgow & Olsson is uniquely qualified to help you.
Our team has helped thousands of people charged with crimes in Illinois. When we take cases, we do so to win. This means we take cases to trial. We don’t arrange plea bargains unless they’re in our clients’ best interests. As proactive lawyers, we fight aggressively and support our clients throughout their entire case up to and including appeals. Protecting your life and freedom is always the goal, and with our decades of experience practicing law, we know how to get results. This is why we are regularly invited to serve as legal contributors on popular radio and news outlets, including ABC, CNN, NBC, CBS, and Fox News.
When you need an attorney, experience matters. Speak with a Chicago criminal defense attorney today to learn how our experience can get you the results you deserve.