False criminal accusations ruin many people’s lives as they have to face real consequences, including life imprisonment. False accusations can happen anywhere, including at the workplace and at home, when you are in the middle of a divorce or fighting for child custody.
The number one mistake that many people who are accused of things they never did is assuming that the truth will prevail nonetheless and that the court system will be able to see through the lies, and things will run in their favor.
The truth is that at least 54% of the people who are wrongly convicted are a victim of official misconduct, which is why you should always have a lawyer by your side, such as the criminal defense lawyer southaven ms, who knows the law and everything about court proceedings, and can prevent a wrongful imprisonment.
Nonetheless, suppose you get wrongfully convicted of a crime that you never committed; in this case, you will want to follow the below-given steps:
Stay Calm
Of course, you will be mentally affected by a false allegation, as we know that false criminal allegations seriously impact one’s mental and emotional health. However, instead of arguing with the police and the accusers, you will want to remain calm.
By responding to a criminal allegation in an aggressive way, you will only hurt your case. You will want to remember that dealing with false criminal charges is a marathon, not a sprint. Suppose you have a family, and the false accusations could hurt child custody. In that case, you will want to be mindful about displaying irrational and angry behavior as it could fuel the fire and depict you as an unfit parent in the eyes of the judge.
Get an Attorney
The best things you could do in such a situation are to remain calm and hire an attorney immediately. Ideally, the attorney is the only person you should talk to throughout the entire ordeal. Consulting with an attorney will ensure that your rights are protected, and you will also have the peace of mind that you have a professional lawyer by your side who will help you clear your name.
It doesn’t matter how straightforward the case is for you; everything will become significantly easier once you hire an attorney.
Collect Evidence
Another thing that you will want to work on after getting accused of something that you didn’t commit is to start gathering evidence and witnesses to help you strengthen your case. After a false conviction, we recommend getting a journal with you at all times.
You can use the journal then to jot down important notes that you might remember in connection to the case. Also, you will want to keep a record of everything that is related to the accusers, including their texts, emails, and calls.
It is important to mention here that you should never try to meet the accusers in person while you are going through the ordeal, as anything that you do or say can be used against you in court.