Have You Been Falsely Accused Of A Crime? Take These Steps To Protect Yourself.

The justice system is meant to punish only the guilty. However, the system is far from perfect. Mistakes can and do happen. Miscarriages of justice are far too frequent. And although it is impossible to accurately calculate wrongful convictions, conservative guesses estimate that at least one percent of the U.S. prison population is composed of falsely accused and wrongfully convicted individuals.

A false criminal accusation can throw your life off track, damaging your relationships and career. If you were falsely accused of a crime, you need legal representation to help prevent a wrongful conviction. The experienced criminal defense attorneys at the Bellwoar Kelly, LLP know how to fight a false accusation. From our West Chester and Pottstown offices, we serve clients throughout southeastern Pennsylvania.

Protection From A Rigid System

The criminal justice system can be just as hard on the innocent as the guilty. Whether the false accusations stemmed from a mistake, from overzealous law enforcement, or from a witness who fabricated allegations against you, you need to protect yourself from further harm.

If you were falsely accused or wrongfully arrested, follow these steps to avoid self-incrimination:

• Exercise your right to remain silent. Do not speak to law enforcement even if you have nothing to hide. Police can misconstrue your words and use them against you. They’re highly trained to elicit incriminating statements. Only speak to police with an attorney present.
• Hire an attorney. Even if formal charges have not been filed, involve a criminal defense attorney as soon as possible. Retaining an attorney does not imply guilt. An experienced lawyer can help you understand the false accusations and your options for fighting any charges.
• Decline any voluntary testing. Do not submit to testing without approval from your attorney, even if you think the results would prove your innocence. Test results are not impervious to error and the results could adversely affect your case.

Get Help Proving Your Innocence

After a false accusation, events can happen quickly and you may not be sure what to do. We offer a free consultation to answer your questions. To schedule yours, please call 610-314-7066 or send us an email.