Facing police misconduct charges is a very serious matter. Your career, your reputation and your freedom can all be on the line. Prosecutors in New Jersey take allegations of police misconduct very seriously, and these allegations can lead to swift prosecution in New Jersey courts.
With this in mind, our New Jersey police misconduct lawyer provides the following five important pieces of information that accused officers need to know.
1. Remain Silent
At this point, you have the right to remain silent. Do not try to talk to your supervisor, and do not contact the prosecutor about your case—even if you know him or her very well. You need to be very careful about everything you say and do, and the best way to protect yourself is to avoid saying or doing anything that could make your situation worse than it already is.
2. There is a Good Chance the Allegations Will Be Made Public
In today’s world, there is a good chance that the allegations against you will be made public. Whether in the news media or on social media (or both), there could soon be stories about you circulating online. If this happens, you need to avoid the urge to respond. Now is not the time. Your defense lawyers will work to control the narrative, and anything you say in your own defense will likely be used against you in one way or another.
3. You Will Need to Fight to Protect Your Career, Reputation and Freedom
As a defendant in New Jersey’s criminal justice system, you must fight to protect your freedom and everything you have worked so hard to earn. Your case isn’t going to go away on its own, and the prosecutor’s office is not going to take it easy on you. If you are going to avoid a conviction and sentencing, it will be because you have done everything possible to build and execute a strategic defense.
4. There are Several Potential Defenses to Police Misconduct Allegations
There are several potential defenses to police misconduct allegations, and exposing the actual facts of your case could be critical to a successful defense at trial. From prosecutorial misconduct to constitutional violations during your case, there are potential defenses that are unrelated to the underlying facts of your case as well.
5. A New Jersey Police Misconduct Lawyer Can Help
Regardless of the circumstances you are facing, a New Jersey police misconduct lawyer can help. An experienced attorney will be able to conduct an investigation to gather all relevant facts, deal with the media and prosecutor’s office for you, and fight to secure the best outcome possible. If you have been arrested and charged with police misconduct, you should speak with a lawyer right away.
Talk to a New Jersey Police Misconduct Lawyer in Confidence
To speak with a New Jersey police misconduct lawyer about your case in confidence, call 877-435-6371 or contact us online. With multiple office locations throughout New Jersey, we represent officers statewide.
Over 20 attorneys at HCK have extensive experience in defending criminal cases as they were former assistant prosecutors and/or police officers for a combined total of over 600 years of law enforcement experience. You can find out more about them on our site, and you can call Managing Partner Ron Helmer on his cell phone at 609 685-0665.
