As the saying goes, a person accused of a crime is innocent until proven guilty. Of course, if authorities accuse you of a crime, you may feel as if they have already deemed you guilty before you even have a chance to understand your situation.
Though finding the “bad guy” is among the duties of police officers, it is important to remember that they do not always see the full picture or have all the information about how an event took place. Often, if they find what they believe is evidence that points to a suspect, they may not even continue looking for other possible suspects.
Police investigations
When a crime is believed to have taken place, officers will typically conduct an investigation. These investigations can help them gather information, details and possible evidence about what happened and whether criminal charges may suit the situation. Some ways in which officers gather information during investigations include:
- Assessing a crime scene
- Taking pictures and measurements
- Collecting possible evidence and objects associated with the crime
- Making observations about the scene
- Interviewing witnesses
- Examining physical and forensic evidence
- Noting details about the scene or suspect behavior
- Interrogating suspects
This list is just a broad overview of how officers conduct investigations. However, any of these steps could result in officers questioning you if they somehow believe that evidence points to you as a suspect. If they bring you in for interrogation, they may even try to manipulate you into confessing. Though officers expect you to tell the truth, they do not necessarily have to be truthful with you.
Have the right help
Sitting in an interrogation room can certainly be nerve-wracking, and you undoubtedly will have the urge to vehemently defend yourself. Of course, anything you say could be turned around by officers to make you appear guilty. As a result, it is often wise to remember your right to remain silent and that the prosecution must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that you committed a crime.
Before a case against you even moves forward, you may want to also exercise your right to an attorney. A Georgia criminal defense attorney could help you understand your rights, explore the evidence investigators allegedly have against you and take other steps to ensure that your case is properly handled. You may feel more confident in your ability to face any accusations against you when you have legal support.
