What happens if I am arrested or stopped by the police but not charged?

If you are accused of committing a crime, it is essential that you consult with a top-rated criminal defense attorney immediately.

You have good reason to believe you might be charged with a crime. Now what?

“What happens if I am arrested?” Many believe they may get lucky, a crime will not be discovered, or the police will give it a “pass.” A person harboring this belief is fooling themselves. It is exceedingly rare that the police will not follow up when there is a felony or misdemeanor allegation. It is just a matter of time before the police knock on your door or light up your rear-view mirror. Getting a visit from the police at your workplace can cause severe damage to your reputation, even if they are there to talk or ask you questions. Being handcuffed in front of coworkers, put into the back of a police car, and taken to jail would be devastating. If you get arrested at work, you will most likely not be returning to that job.

Waiting for the police or prosecutor to decide whether they will charge you might be one of the biggest mistakes of your life.

“If I wait to hire a lawyer, what happens when I’m arrested?”

Because hiring an attorney is expensive, many people delay hiring a defense lawyer until there are criminal charges. Some people even speak to the police investigating the case without an attorney’s advice and protection. Talking with the police and delaying the retention of an experienced lawyer is a terrible mistake. If the police consider you a suspect, you will not be able to “talk your way out of it.” If you speak with the police, they will gain information that they will use against you. Police officers questioning you at home, work, car, or in public places do not have to read your Miranda Rights unless you’re in custody. Although you may think you can explain things to the police and say the right things, law enforcement officers have a single mindset to get evidence against you. Remember that anything you say to the police “can and will” be used against you, not “may” be used against you.

“What happens if I’m innocent and accused of a crime?”

If you are innocent and falsely accused, there is even more reason to hire a lawyer right away. An aggressive, respected, and proactive attorney may be able to prevent charges, even when they seem inevitable. Avoiding charges is always better than defending them—the government arrests, charges, and convicts innocent people in the United States. Unfortunately, you cannot rely on the system to work perfectly, and it is in your best interest to protect yourself. What happens if I am arrested for a crime you did not commit? The prosecutor will do everything within their power to convict you, and the only protection you will have will be your lawyer and their willingness to fight for you.

“Is it less likely that I will face charges if I wasn’t arrested?”

Unless law enforcement agents consider a person dangerous or a flight risk, they will probably not arrest them during a criminal investigation. In many cases, the officers will release someone from custody while they complete their investigation and later seek a warrant from the prosecutor. When the officer completes their investigation, they provide their reports and evidence to the prosecutor’s office. The prosecutor decides on felony and misdemeanor charges. Depending on the type of case and the backlog at the prosecutor’s office, it can take several days, weeks, or months before they file charges. If the police have collected forensic evidence, such as bodily fluids or electronic devices, it can take longer. If you do not hire a lawyer on a pre-charge basis, your first knowledge of a charge could be when the police arrest you on a warrant and take you into custody. After the police arrest someone on a warrant, they rush them in front of a judge before they have the opportunity to hire counsel. The only way to ensure you have a great lawyer at your side is to retain them before it is too late.

The Pre-Charge Stage – What Can I Do Before I’m Arrested?

If you believe you are a suspect and think you may be questioned or arrested, it is critical that you immediately meet with an attorney for a free consultation. You are undoubtedly asking yourself, “What happens if I am arrested?” If you obtain a defense lawyer, they can call, meet with, and send a letter to the police alerting them that you’ve retained an attorney. Once the police know you have a lawyer, all contacts must be through the attorney. The police will not have access to you; you will be shielded and protected. An experienced, savvy defense attorney will not allow the police to talk to you and know how to speak persuasively on your behalf.

The pre-charge stage is critical because, in some cases, an astute attorney can convince the police or the prosecutor to drop charges. Dropping the case on a pre-charge basis is possible because a talented attorney will know how to address each piece of evidence, identify areas of weakness in the government’s evidence, and show the police their case is weak.

“What happens when you get arrested in Michigan?”

When someone gets arrested in Michigan, the process typically follows a standard sequence of events, which may vary slightly depending on the specific circumstances of the arrest, the severity of the charge, and the jurisdiction. Here is an overview of the typical arrest process in Michigan:

Arrest: The arrest occurs when law enforcement officers have reasonable cause to believe a person has committed a crime. They may take the individual into custody at the scene of the alleged offense or later if they have obtained an arrest warrant.

Booking: After the arrest, the individual is taken to a local law enforcement facility for booking. During this process, the person’s personal information, such as name, address, and date of birth, is recorded. The police may also conduct a search, take fingerprints, and capture a mugshot.

Initial Appearance: The arrested person is brought before a judge or magistrate for an initial appearance, called an “arraignment,” typically within 24-48 hours of the arrest. At this hearing, the charges are read, and the individual’s rights, including the right to remain silent and the right to an attorney, are explained.

Setting Bail: The judge or magistrate will consider whether to grant bail or release the person on their recognizance until the trial. Bail is a monetary amount that the accused must pay to secure their release and ensure they will appear at future court hearings. If bail is set, the individual may post the required amount or seek the services of a bail bond agent.

“What happens if I voluntarily surrender? Will I have to be arrested?”

Another reason to have an attorney before an arrest is so that the lawyer can negotiate a voluntary surrender. You risk arrest and incarceration if a lawyer fails to negotiate an arrangement before the court issues a warrant. If you voluntarily self-surrender with your attorney, you drastically increase the odds of getting a very low or a personal bond.

If you believe you can wait until you are charged and get a court-appointed attorney to help you, think again. You may sit in jail for a day or more (sometimes several days) until you see your court-appointed attorney. Your first contact with your lawyer will likely be when the court deputies walk you into court. Court-appointed attorneys do not come into the picture until the government files charges. Furthermore, a court-appointed lawyer is unlikely to know about you and the allegations before the court hearing, so they will not have any opportunity to prepare.

If you call an attorney and they tell you to wait and call them back if you get charged, you do not want to work with that attorney; their advice leaves you unprotected. Top-rated, astute criminal defense attorneys know you must be protected even before being charged. A good lawyer can do many things immediately to help you and mitigate potential charges.

An Attorney Retained on a Pre-Charge Basis Can Obtain and Preserve Favorable Evidence

“What happens to evidence in my favor if there is a delay before I’m arrested?” In many cases, evidence that your lawyer can use to defend an allegation can be lost or destroyed if improperly preserved. When the police wait days, weeks, or even months to bring charges, evidence favorable to the accused may get destroyed, erased, altered, or lose admissibility. An experienced, retained lawyer hired early in an investigation will have the best chance of preserving evidence helpful to the defense. As mentioned before, the lawyer can sometimes use this evidence to help their client avoid charges in the first place.

The Pre-Charge Criminal Defense Attorneys – We Can Help You

The dedicated, experienced, and zealous defense attorneys at LEWIS & DICKSTEIN, P.L.L.C. have successfully represented thousands of clients under investigation for possible felony and misdemeanor charges in Oakland, Macomb, Wayne, Washtenaw, and Livingston Counties and throughout Michigan. We have a well-earned reputation for providing the highest quality defense and aggressive representation. If you haven’t been charged yet, we will do everything possible to prevent the case from going to court. If you are concerned about what happens if you are arrested, call us for a free consultation. We will take the time to talk with you, answer your questions, and develop a winning strategy for your defense.

Call us today at (248) 263-6800 for a free consultation or complete an online Request for Assistance Form. We will contact you promptly and find a way to help you.