If you’ve been falsely accused of a crime, it can quickly cause your life to unravel. This is especially true if you don’t have immediate, concrete evidence that the accusation is false. What are you supposed to do in this situation? How can you protect your reputation and maximize your chances of escaping the entire dilemma unscathed?
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Try to Remain Patient
This is probably going to be a stressful and challenging ordeal. However, it’s important to remain patient, even if it takes many months to eventually clear up this situation. Remaining patient is valuable because it helps you maintain your composure, which is going to help you think more clearly and make better decisions.
On top of that, if you can maintain your composure throughout this process, you’re going to appear more credible and trustworthy. Take things one step at a time and try not to harp on the worst-case scenario outcomes.
Get a Good Lawyer (and Follow Their Advice)
A good criminal defense lawyer can help you with every stage of the process, from initially evaluating the integrity of the claim to representing you in court if things get that far. Criminal defense lawyers have lots of experience defending both guilty and innocent people, and they typically know what’s necessary to help you secure the best possible outcomes. They’ll work with you to gather evidence, participate in police interrogations responsibly, and devise a strategy to help you prove your innocence. They can also make sure all of your rights are maintained and respected throughout the process.
More importantly, your lawyer is going to be giving you direction and advice so things don’t get worse. Make sure you ask lots of questions and follow your lawyer’s advice as precisely as possible.
When you’ve successfully cleared your name, your lawyer may also be able to help you restore your damaged reputation in various ways.
Don’t Say More Than Necessary in Police Interrogations
You have a right to silence, and you should exercise it appropriately. During police interrogations, never say more than necessary. You should always have a lawyer at your side when being questioned by the police, and you shouldn’t say anything unless they instruct you otherwise. If you’re being questioned alone, the best course of action is to remain silent until your attorney arrives. This is because even a minor slip-up, such as changing your story in a trivial way, could work against you.
Gather as Much Exculpatory Evidence as You Can
Early on, focus on gathering as much evidence as possible to strengthen your counterclaims. For example, are there eyewitnesses who can give testimony that you were 100 miles away from the alleged incident the night it happened? Do you have phone calls or text messages that contain threats from your accuser? Is there any surveillance footage that’s capable of showing your whereabouts or activities?
Focus on Your Closest Relationships
The people closest to you will likely understand what you’re going through and believe you when you deny the accusation. Focus on these relationships for now, as it’s not a good idea to talk about this incident with other people that you don’t know as well. Lay low, express yourself to your best friends and closest family members and don’t talk about this incident with casual acquaintances.
Refrain From Posting on Social Media
Similarly, refrain from posting on social media while the accusations are still pending. Your lawyer will likely tell you something similar. There’s nothing wrong with sharing a generic meme, but keep all information about your personal life off the internet for the time being.
Start Cleaning Up
Assuming you and your lawyer are able to beat the accusations, you may have some cleanup duty to perform afterward. There may be articles online detailing the accusations, and there may be people who still believe that you committed the alleged crime. You may not be able to totally fix the situation overnight, but there are some actions you can take to remove false information and restore your reputation. Ask your lawyer for more details here.
Consider Suing for Defamation
Defamation laws exist to protect people from false statements that damage their reputations. Depending on how the statement was made, you may be able to sue your accuser for slander or libel. The purpose of this is to recover any damages you sustained as a result of your harmed reputation, and a good lawyer can help you succeed in this endeavor.
False accusations can range from stressful to downright traumatizing. But with the help of a good criminal defense attorney, some patience, and adherence to best practices, you can eventually emerge on the other side relatively undamaged.
