Life was rather great up until the time you heard someone yell the word police. From that point on, things changed in a hurry.
If you had never been arrested before, you likely have little to no idea of how such a procedure goes down.
Whether you are arrested for something major or something falling more on the minor side, it can be quite unnerving to have those handcuffs slapped on. When that does happen, you need an experience criminal defense attorney on your side to fight for you.
One of the more embarrassing crimes to be arrested for is prostitution.
Whether you purposefully went to meet with someone to engage in an illicit act or were caught up in a prostitution sting, the end result can be equally damaging.
At the end of the day, it is better to have a great prostitution attorney than not.
The big question in many such cases, how do you go about finding the right criminal defense attorney for your needs?
Choose Your Criminal Defense Attorney Wisely
So that you can make the best possible choice available when it comes to your attorney needs, keep these tips in mind:
- Search process – First and foremost, where will your criminal defense attorney search begin? Will you look at the local newspapers, Yellow Pages, perhaps even turn to family or friends for their advice and/or referrals? Another option is turning to the Internet. It did not take too long for criminal defense attorneys to see that being active on the worldwide web would help their cases with the public. Many attorneys have websites, websites that allow them to essentially provide a business card to potential clients. With those websites (see more below), the ability to attract individuals in need is ramped up;
- Head for the web – If you decide to try and locate a criminal defense attorney on the web to fight your prostitution charges, having a snapshot of their experience in such cases is crucial. He or she not only needs to know all the legal language involved in your type of case, but also how the prosecution is likely to proceed. Given the fact professional websites are essentially like online business cards, you can see not only an attorney’s level of experience, but also information regarding their staff, what practice areas they concentrate on, and even some customer testimonials in many instances. Most importantly, give yourself a handful or more of attorney websites to choose from, making it easier for you to come up with the best attorney when all is said and done;
- Always cooperate with your legal representation – Finally, you can’t expect the odds to be in your favor of winning your case (or at least getting a notable plea deal sent your way) if you do not fully cooperate with your legal team of choice. Make sure once you have selected a criminal defense attorney that you share all pertinent information with them regarding your arrest, the charges being brought against you etc. If you knowingly committed an illegal act, the deck can be stacked against you from the get-go. On the other hand, do you feel this is a case of entrapment and/or you never truthfully offered to pay someone for sexual services? In such cases, your criminal defense attorney stands a much better chance of getting the charges dismissed altogether or at least securing the best possible plea deal.
Not only is a prostitution charge a potential financial nightmare, leading you to perhaps accruing more debt, but it is also quite frankly embarrassing.
When it comes to the latter, your personal and professional lives can be impacted negatively for years to come. As a result, you could wind up finding your wallet or purse victims too.
On the personal front, you stand the chance of being singled out by friends and family, looking at you differently moving forward.
On the professional level, you could see such a charge (and conviction) impact your career, be it your present job or a job you are chasing after. Either way, the outcomes are not beneficial to your long-term career success.
If you’ve been caught up in a prostitution sting, having the right criminal defense attorney backing you up is your best option.