Criminal investigations in Newark are often incredibly stressful. Law enforcement may not always act appropriately and overstep your rights in their eagerness to win a conviction. If you are dealing with a criminal investigation in Newark, the seasoned criminal defense attorneys at the Law Office of Eric M. Mark could help protect your rights and those of your family.
Law enforcement officials deserve respect. However, police officers, detectives, and other investigators are human and can make mistakes, experience personal bias, or have a bad day. Common criminal investigation errors in Newark include:
Sometimes, these issues are not mistakes but a result of manipulation tactics used to deceive a suspect about their rights.
Law enforcement can absolutely lie to suspects, their families, potential witnesses, and others. New Jersey law allows them a lot of leeway when interrogating suspects but the more they mislead, the more there is for the defense to attack,.
During an arrest, a police officer may say something like, “If you admit to this crime right now, the judge will look kindly on your behavior.” This is sometimes, though not always, accurate. Judges must follow legal requirements on sentencing. While it is always a good idea to be quiet and polite when dealing with police, an immediate confession during an arrest is no guarantee of softer sentencing.
While detectives often say something like, “Your partner told us everything. We are ready to hear your side of the story,” this is almost always untrue. These statements are used in Newark criminal investigations to convince a suspect to confess. Individuals often fall for this if they believe they can shift the blame onto another person.
Thanks to modern technology like traffic cameras, cell phones, and social media, video evidence of crimes often exists, and courts appreciate it. However, law enforcement is allowed to lie about whether videos of a crime exist to encourage a confession. There may be no video at all, or it may not depict a crime.
Ultimately, the best choice you can make during a criminal investigation is to contact an attorney and remain quiet. You are never going to talk your way out of a criminal charge, but you may talk your way into one.
We at the Law Office of Eric M. Mark are ready to fight tirelessly on your behalf. Our experienced lawyers could help you protect your rights during criminal investigations in Newark and ensure you are treated fairly by local law enforcement. We have helped many individuals cope with their criminal investigations and look forward to helping you, too. Contact us today for fast, responsive, knowledgeable legal representation.