As a Philadelphia criminal defense lawyer for over 30 years, I have represented individuals in murder cases, drug cases, gun cases, and cases that involve multiple crimes such as gun and drug charges, or gun and murder charges.
Time and time again, I see defendants make mistakes which hurt their cases. In this article, I will discuss top mistakes I see defendants make in their Philadelphia criminal cases.
Talking to Others
One of the most common mistakes defendants make is talking to people. Oftentimes, defendants talk to the police who tell them that coming clean now will make it easier on them in the long run. However, this is a mistake. It will most likely make the situation worse for the defendants. For instance, an individual brought to the police station for questioning may be immediately arrested after what he tells the police.
Defendants should never talk to the police without a Philadelphia criminal defense lawyer present. If individuals are not under arrest, they don’t have to answer questions and can leave. If individuals are under arrest, they should always exercise their right to remain silent pursuant to their 5th Amendment constitutional right. Individuals should tell the police that they are not answering their questions and they want a lawyer. See Silence is Golden.
Defendants also make the mistake of talking to other people like their friends or their jail mates. The only person defendants should talk to about their case is their criminal defense lawyer.
Using Social Media
Social media has become a part of our lives. Almost everyone uses some type of social media platform, such as posting pictures on Facebook or Instagram and posting videos on Snapchat. This is another common mistake defendants make. For whatever reason, defendants post pictures and videos that may seal their case.
Prosecutors and police are turning to social media to gather evidence against defendants. Many times social media posts do more damage to the criminal case. For example, an individual is arrested and charged with armed robbery of a jewelry store that occurred a week ago. The prosecutors look at the defendant’s social media accounts and find that the individual posted a picture of himself holding jewelry a few hours after the robbery occurred on his Instagram account.
Help from a Philadelphia Criminal Defense Lawyer
It is imperative for defendants to have their criminal defense lawyer present when being questioned by the police. If you have questions about a criminal case in Philadelphia, please call my office to schedule a FREE consultation. 215.564.0644
Disclaimer: This website does not create any attorney-client relationship or provide legal advice. Our lawyers provide legal advice only after accepting a case. It is imperative that any action taken is done on advice of counsel. Read full disclaimer below.
