Criminal accusations are very serious and should not be dismissed. The Philadelphia police will investigate any legitimate accusations and arrest you if they have enough evidence and probable cause. However, not every arrest happens right away. In many cases, the police need time to conduct a proper investigation and gather enough evidence before making arrests. If you believe you have been accused of a crime, it can be torture waiting for the police to show up at your door with an arrest warrant. If you want to clear your name sooner rather than later, you might want to think about turning yourself in to the police.
Turning yourself in for an alleged crime can help get the ball rolling on your case, which means you can clear your name sooner. However, most people do not know exactly how to turn themselves in. While it is possible to simply walk into the police station and explain that you are turning yourself in, this may not be the best way to handle things. Before turning yourself in, find an experienced criminal defense lawyer to help you. An attorney can guide you through the process while protecting your rights.
If you have been accused of a crime, you can turn yourself into the Philadelphia police. Turning yourself in is a scary experience as you are walking directly into a pair of handcuffs. However, depending on your situation, this may be the fastest way to clear your charges. Our Philadelphia criminal defense attorneys can help you through this tough time. Call The Law Offices of Lloyd Long at (215) 302-0171 to schedule a private legal consultation free of charge.
Turning Yourself into the Philadelphia Police for an Alleged Criminal Offense
The first thing people often ask when turning themselves into the Philadelphia police is where they have to go. You might be a little scared to walk into a police station and hand yourself over to law enforcement, but you might not know any other way to go about it.
While you can certainly go to the police station and turn yourself in, there are other options as well. You can sit down with your attorney, call the authorities and ask about turning yourself in. This may be a good idea because they will know to expect you ahead of time. Depending on your case, they may also prefer to come to you and pick you up. In either scenario, having an attorney by your side will be very helpful.
When turning yourself in, you need to be careful about what you say to not incriminate yourself. Remember, turning yourself in is not necessarily an admission of guilt. It simply means you want to work with law enforcement to resolve your case. When you do turn yourself in, you may be questioned by the police. Your attorney should be by your side and will help you answer questions while protecting your best interests.
When you turn yourself in, you can expect to be questioned about the alleged crimes and possibly arrested. If the police already had a warrant for your arrest, they will take you into custody. However, if you are just a suspect and there is no probable cause on which to base an arrest, they may question you before taking you into custody. Exactly what happens between you and the police will depend on your charges and the nature of your case. Call our Philadelphia criminal defense attorneys for help.
Why You Need an Attorney with You When You Turn Yourself into the Philadelphia Police
When you turn yourself in for an alleged crime, you will likely be arrested. Once in custody, you will also probably be questioned. The police must read you your Miranda rights before questioning begins, and you have the right to have a lawyer with you. This is why walking into the police station with an attorney by your side is so crucial. Your lawyer can protect you by helping you invoke all the protections necessary to prevent a violation of your rights.
Once you are in custody, your attorney can also immediately begin working on bail. If you are indeed arrested and taken into custody after turning yourself in, your attorney can get to work on getting you released right away. It is much easier to deal with criminal charges from home than from a jail cell. Our Philadelphia criminal defense lawyers will help you through this process while making sure your rights are protected.
Why Turning Yourself into the Philadelphia Police May be Helpful to Your Case
First of all, turning yourself in does not have to mean that you are admitting guilt. In many cases, people turn themselves in because they are not guilty, and the sooner they work things out with the authorities, the better. Turning yourself in does not mean you are confessing. You are simply cooperating with law enforcement officials. This cooperation can actually work in your favor as a mitigating factor later on.
When you enter your bail hearing, a judge will decide whether to impose bail and what your bail should be. If a defendant is a serious flight risk, judges are less likely to grant bail because they are afraid you will not show up to court. However, by turning yourself in and cooperating with the police, you have demonstrated that you are unlikely to flee. Depending on your charges, you could be released on your own recognizance, which means you do not pay any bail and are trusted to return to the court of your own free will.
Your willingness to cooperate could also help you get a better plea deal. The prosecutor may be more willing to reduce your charges if they feel like you are trying to work with them rather than against them. However, do not plead guilty simply for the sake of being cooperative. A plea deal should only be accepted if it is the best possible outcome for your case.
No matter what your situation is, our northeast Philadelphia criminal defense lawyers can help you. Speak with our team about turning yourself in and we can begin working on your case as soon as possible.
Contact Our Philadelphia Criminal Defense Attorneys for Help Confronting the Police
If you have been accused of a crime, it may be beneficial to your case to cooperate with law enforcement and turn yourself in. Our team of Philadelphia criminal defense lawyers can help you turn yourself in while also fighting your charges. Call The Law Offices of Lloyd Long at (215) 302-0171 to schedule a private legal consultation with our team free of charge.