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The extent of criminal investigations in Denver is different in every case. In some situations, law enforcement might surveil a suspect for months before making an arrest. In other cases, the police might place someone in custody in a matter of minutes after directly witnessing a crime. There are also times when months of investigating result in no criminal charges being filed.
If you are facing a criminal investigation, now is the time to talk with legal counsel. You have the right to an attorney regardless of the offense you are suspected of committing. Let a dedicated defense lawyer help you navigate the legal threat you currently face.
In many cases, a person will learn they are the target of a Denver criminal investigation when the police show up at their door. In complex cases, law enforcement might not have enough evidence to make an arrest right away. One of the strategies they rely on is surprising the suspect and interviewing them with the hopes they incriminate themselves. Even if the suspect does not admit to anything, these statements can be compared to what is said at trial in an effort to discredit the accused as a witness. No one is obligated to speak with the police regarding a criminal investigation. This is thanks to the constitutional protection from self-incrimination.
Similarly, people are not obligated to allow the police to search a home, office, or vehicle. While the police might imply they are allowed to do so, they can only conduct a search with permission or a warrant. Illegally searching a person’s home or vehicle can have a dramatic impact on the outcome of any criminal prosecution. The evidence obtained through an unlawful search could be excluded at trial, significantly decreasing the odds of a conviction.
The point of an investigation is for the police to determine if a crime was committed. In some situations, officers will decide no laws were broken or accept that the evidence is too insufficient to bring charges. After all, law enforcement rarely has access to all the information early on in the process.
There are times when police and prosecutors might be on the fence about filing charges. These are the situations where having the support of legal counsel can be critical. An attorney could lay out their defense for the prosecutor and convince them the odds of a conviction are low. It may be possible to avoid an arrest through this proactive approach.
Regardless of the outcome of an investigation, everyone is presumed innocent of a crime until they are convicted in court. Throughout a criminal investigation in Denver, the accused has a variety of rights related to cooperating with police, refusing to make statements, or remaining free and out of jail. Protecting these rights is a top priority for an attorney representing someone under investigation for a crime.
If you have been accused of wrongdoing, the sooner you speak to a legal professional, the better. Given how high the stakes are, reach out to Mike Petrash today to learn about your options.