What To Do If You Have Incriminating Evidence

The possibility of having incriminating evidence in their possession can scare anyone. However, there are a few things you can do to minimize the potential damage. A criminal defense law attorney will tell you to do the following five things.

Remain Calm

Foremost, there's no benefit to freaking out even if the evidence is the most damning to ever exist. There are options for presenting a defense, and none of them work better if you're upset. Stay calm. Avoid doing anything reckless.

Remember, there's a decent chance the evidence isn't as bad as you think it is. You're not a lawyer, and it's best not to make legal assumptions. The thing you're worried about might not even be a crime so don't freak out now.

Obtain Counsel

Contact a criminal defense attorney as soon as possible. Arrange a meeting, but refrain from going too far into the issue until you've had the chance to consult with them. Give them the basic outline and then wait until your appointment time.

Preserve the Evidence

This may sound counterintuitive, but a criminal defense attorney will tell you otherwise. Destroying evidence is a bad move. All that does is raise the odds a prosecutor will tack on an additional charge if they decide to do anything about it.

Your best move is to minimize contact with the evidence while also preserving it. Under no circumstances should you throw evidence away, burn it, or do anything else destructive. Avoid deleting digital files, too. Preserve the evidence as best you can so no one can accuse you of something like the destruction of evidence or obstruction of justice.

Refrain from Discussing It

No one besides your lawyer needs to know anything about the evidence. Refrain from conversations even with people who are close to you. All you can do by discussing it with others is to leave them with potential criminal exposure. If you keep the problem between you and your attorney, that at least limits the possible damage.

Know Your Rights

Police investigators may come looking for the item in question. You should know your rights in terms of search and seizure.

If the cops don't have a search warrant, then you're not obligated to turn over anything. Likewise, the warrant has to specify what they're looking for and where they believe it is. Ask for a copy of the warrant if they come with one, and call a criminal defense attorney as soon as possible.