FAQ: How Do I Know if I’m Being Charged With a Crime?

Sometimes I get phone calls from people who contact me because they’re afraid they’re in trouble with the law, and if I ask them “Are you facing criminal charges?” they answer “I’m not sure.”

While it might sound ridiculous to even ask the question, it is worth exploring exactly how charges can be brought against you so you know how to answer the question when contacting a criminal defense attorney.

Most of the time, someone will know for sure they’re being charged because they’ve been arrested or have gone to court. That’s pretty simple, right? Did the police show up at your house and arrest you? That’s very easy to determine. The same goes for having to appear in court. Have you been to court? Okay, then it’s very likely you have charges against you and you know it.

While that’s the case 95% of the time, it’s not always that obvious. Sometimes the government has been investigating you for some time, and you may be on the verge of them charging you but you aren’t quite sure. When that happens, people wonder if it’s appropriate to reach out to an attorney or not.

So let me be clear: even if you haven’t been charged with a crime, it is never too early to contact a criminal defense attorney. You don’t have to wait for charges in order to get legal help and protect your rights.

When I ask people the question “Are you facing charges?” the term “facing” is very important. Are you looking at the possibility of charges, or has it already happened? Most of the time I help people after they’ve been arrested or they already have a court date. But not always: even in the period of time before charges are filed, I can still help an individual out and “liaise” with law enforcement and do all sorts of stuff to help them.

For example, I once had a client who was investigated for drug trafficking for over a year. It took a long time, but eventually, charges were filed. I worked with the client prior to being charged to help ensure he did not make any bad decisions, and then I represented him in the criminal case.

So, bottom line: even if you’re not exactly sure if you have been charged with a crime, if you suspect you will be, I highly recommend you reach out to a criminal defense attorney. It can only help your case.