Woodward Law Offices, LLP FAQs

The constitution prohibits a search by law enforcement if they do not possess a warrant. However, there are certain instances where a warrant is not required. A search with or without a warrant may be illegal. Contact a criminal defense attorney to determine if you or your property were illegally searched.

A search warrant is a document signed by a judge that allows the police to conduct a search in a certain place for certain items. The police will need to establish probable cause based on their observations or information from a reliable informant. Contact a criminal defense lawyer today to learn more about how search warrants may play a role in your case.

The police must read the Miranda warnings before they interrogate someone who is in custody. Being in custody means that a reasonable person would conclude that they were not free to leave. Statements that are volunteered by someone in custody, without an interrogation, can be used against them even if the police did not provide Miranda warnings. Speak with a criminal defense attorney today to find out if you should have been given a Miranda warning.

A criminal defendant should almost always retain a criminal defense attorney or at least ask the judge to appoint a public defender for them. According to PBS, 28% of states exclusively use public defender programs to provide legal counsel. While you can technically represent yourself, there is no substitute for a lawyer's knowledge of the criminal justice system.

Your criminal defense lawyer will need to know about the details of your case to craft an effective defense. You should be honest with the lawyer unless they tell you that they do not want to know specifically what happened. This is a concern that is probably based on ethical rules.