Being falsely accused of a crime can be incredibly upsetting and so you will be desperate to clear your name. Although it is rare, it is something that can happen and this is why it is so important that you know what to do in this situation so that you can clear your name and move on with your life. It is very easy to panic in these intimidating circumstances and this can be problematic as when you panic you are more likely to make a mistake or make matters worse for yourself. Here is everything you need to know about what to do when are accused of a crime that you did not commit.
• Understand Why It Can Happen
It is incredibly shocking and upsetting to be accused of a crime that you did not commit. Usually, it is a case of mistaken identity where you have a similar appearance to the real criminal (this is common with the rise of social media), but it can also be a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time or even sometimes a false accusation.
• Be Co-Operative
Your natural reaction will be to protest and resist arrest, but this will make matters much worse. Instead, exercise your right to silence, try to remain calm and have faith that the justice system will prevail.
• Seek Expert Legal Help
This is a serious situation that will require you to seek specialist legal help once you have been arrested. You should seek out a lawyer that has expert knowledge in the crime that you are accused of, such as conspiracy law if you have been accused of conspiring with others to commit a crime. You should then carefully follow the legal advice of your solicitor while you are questioned.
• What Happens Next?
Hopefully, during the questioning, you will be able to prove your innocence, in which case you will be free to go. The other outcomes are being released with a caution or police bail where someone will have to post bail in order for you to be released until your court hearing.
• Avoiding Contact With Your Accuser
The biggest mistake that people make in these situations is choosing to approach their accuser to try and clear their name. While this may seem like a natural and intelligent thing to do, this can make matters much worse and play into their hands as it could easily lead to an altercation and even witness intimidation. Instead, avoid all contact and focus on clearing your own name.
• Putting The Incident Behind You
When you are accused of a crime that you did not commit, it can not only be extremely troubling and an intimidating process to go through, but it can also have a very negative impact on your life in many ways, including your personal reputation. The most important thing to remember is that you have been proven innocent and that your name is cleared. People may gossip for a while but people forget these things quickly so it may simply be a case of keeping your head down and giving it some time.
Hopefully, this is a situation that you never find yourself in, but it is helpful to know what steps you need to take so that you can correct the situation and move on with your life.
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Founder Dinis Guarda
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