Your words can hurt:
Once arrested and formally charged with a criminal offense, anything you say or do, counts. You have the right to remain silent and you should. Without the proper knowledge, you could unintentionally incriminate yourself with a poorly worded statement made to police or investigators. These statements can be used against you. If you’re under investigation, contact an attorney, immediately. Don’t discuss your case with anyone else until you have consulted one. Let the attorney speak on your behalf. They will protect you and speak for you.
The Cops can hurt you:
Ever hear of good cop bad cop? Police officers are trained in ways to make people talk. Sometimes people think they can talk their way out of it and it does not work. It is important to invoke your right to counsel, and your right to remain silent, and never speak to police. These are Constitutional rights that must never be waived. If you say something that hurts you, then an attorney can still help. If the police did not Mirandize you properly, statements can be suppressed.
The District Attorney can hurt you:
Having a good working relationship with the district attorney can help your case. If you represent yourself, anything you tell the DA can be used against you. If you hire an attorney, then the attorney’s statements cannot be used against you.
The Judge can hurt you:
After you are arraigned in District, Superior, Juvenile court, the District Attorney can ask for bail. You need an experienced attorney to defend these allegations. If your offense involves Domestic Battery or a serious enough crime, the District Attorney can even ask that you are held as a DANGER for up to 120 days with no right to bail. This is why you need a lawyer.
Lawyers will not hurt you:
The Attorney is not a witness in your case. Being charged with a crime or being part of an investigation can be scary and confusing. Attorneys hold the Commonwealth and the police to their burden. No one should ever represent themselves in a criminal proceeding. The unseen complications due to drug law changes, license loss, as well as immigration consequences, just to name a few, require someone that knows the law.