Understanding Coaching As Part Of A Criminal Defense

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If you have been arrested and convicted of a crime, then it is in your best interest to seek out the advice of a criminal defense attorney. This attorney will help you to come up with the best defense for your situation. If you and your attorney decide to go through a court case instead of settling the matter outside of court, then the professional will help prepare you for the court date. One thing they will do is referred to as coaching. Keep reading to learn more info about what this is.

It Helps You Tell The Truth

Coaching sounds like a term that would be used to help you lie about a situation to get you out of trouble. This is not true though. Coaching allows your attorney to come up with the best defense possible as your advocate. Coaching involves such things as making sure that you remember all of the accurate details of a situation. For example, if you witnessed a crime, but did not commit one, then your attorney will want to present all of this information to the judge and jury. For this reason, your coaching may involve your recollections and you may be asked to right them down for the attorney.

Part of the coaching process may involve the attorney exploring additional details that you may not immediately remember. As previously mentioned, your attorney does not want you to lie. However, he may ask you to retrace your steps mentally or the attorney may take you to the crime scene to jog your memory. 

It Prepares You For Cross Examination

There are very likely some details of your story that are up for interpretation or that may be examined closely by the prosecutors trying the case against you. It is very easy to contradict yourself or to forget the facts when the opposite council is cross examining you. To help prepare you for tough situations, your attorney will use mock interviews and mock cross examinations.

Basically, your attorney will ask you questions that may be asked during court. You will have a chance to formulate truthful, honest, and complete answers in a safe setting before your court date. 

It is essential that you inform your attorney of all the details of your situation as well as others who may be involved in the case. Your attorney cannot coach your properly if they are unaware of certain facts. For example, if you were arrested five years ago and charged with a similar crime, then your attorney will definitely want to know this, since the prosecutor is likely to bring it up. 


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