Practice Areas
Criminal Investigation
What to Do if You're Caught in a Criminal Investigation
Although a criminal prosecution technically begins either with a grand jury indictment or a prosecutor's criminal complaint, you might realize that you're involved with an investigation long before any formal charges are filed. Tempting as it might be to sit tight and hope for the best, a good defense lawyer can provide valuable service while the authorities are considering what to do with you.
If you have the good sense to seek a lawyer's advice while a criminal investigation is still continuing, contact the law offices of Seymour I. Amster, Attorney at Law. You'd be amazed at the difference a skilled and experienced advocate can make in your favor before the prosecution is committed to a particular set of charges.
Call 800-972-1740 to enlist an attorney who will work on stopping the criminal investigation against you.
Here are some of the ways you can benefit from our advice while a criminal investigation is still ongoing:
- Develop a sense of your risk of punishment on a range of potential charges
- Learn to avoid mistakes when dealing with police interrogation or "informal" interviews with investigators
- Get your own investigation of the facts and witness statements underway
- Clarify the level of interest the district attorney has in your case
- Start negotiating potential grounds of cooperation with the investigation in exchange for reduced charges or even immunity
You'll come to understand that the easiest charges to beat are the ones that are never filed against you. As your defense counsel, Seymour Amster knows how to protect you by working with the prosecution during a criminal investigation. The goal is to achieve a favorable outcome while your options are at their greatest. At the same time, you'll find that involvement in a criminal investigation presents you with a series of important decisions that can continue through trial and beyond.
Your choices narrow as time goes on, and it's especially important to protect your options while you still have them. They're never greater than they are while the prosecution is considering whether or not to charge you. Our job is to help you make the right decisions at every stage while working to keep your options open.
Our client service prior to formal charges can be especially valuable in gang cases, drug cases, motor vehicle felonies, white collar crimes, child porn or child molestation charges and other criminal defense situations. Your need for early legal advice might come up either before or after a criminal arrest.
A lawyer's early intervention is also useful during federal grand jury proceedings, which can go on for weeks or months while the U.S. Attorney's Office is considering serious charges against you in complex cases.
To learn more about the benefits of skilled defense services during an ongoing criminal investigation, contact our law firm in Van Nuys or other office locations of Seymour I. Amster, Attorney at Law.
