Being falsely accused of a crime can be a frightening proposition. It’s hard not to let your mind think the worst. You fear that you might be found guilty of a crime you didn’t commit. Even the worst, though, can still be life-altering when it comes to false accusations. To minimize the damage, you’ll want a strong legal team on your side. One that can challenge the credibility of the accusation at every opportunity and defend against it in open court if needed. With false accusations, it’s important to understand the full scope of what they are to avoid inadvertently hurting your case.
Kinds of False Accusations
False accusations often come from a place of deep anger and a lack of moral character. This means the accusations are often of something that is most likely to produce the most damage for the accused. The accusations tend to be of the crimes that are hardest to disprove entirely while also being most despised in our society. This is why things like domestic violence, child abuse, sexual assault, and standard assault are some of the most regularly occurring accusations.
Damages of False Accusations
The risks of a false accusation for the accused can be substantial. It’s nearly impossible to escape without some level of negative impact, but it’s critical to have a defense lawyer to help minimize the damage. Some of the negative impacts could include:
- -Disruption of life – missed work, legal commitment taking up a lot of time, family disruption, etc.
- -Financial loss
- -Being investigated
- -Potentially being found guilty
- -Damage to your reputation
- -Mental health impacts
What to Do When Falsely Accused
The most important thing to do if you are falsely accused is to keep your composure. A feeling of righteous indignation is more than understandable in the face of a false accusation. You may want to lash out in anger. Be aware that one of the worst things you can do is to demonstrate an aggressive response. This behavior will likely be used against you. The smartest thing you can do is breathe and remain calm.
The second thing to do when falsely accused is to hire a defense attorney as quickly as possible. Avoid saying anything to the police without your lawyer present. Police are trained to seek confessions. Their phrasing may even be used to seek false confessions. A lawyer can help you avoid any missteps and help you understand how to defend yourself against the false claim.
FAQs
Q: What Could Happen When You Are Falsely Accused?
A: There are several negative things that can happen as a result of a false accusation. You will be subject to an investigation. You could be found guilty even when you’re not. It’s likely that your life will be interrupted in a variety of ways, from time lost to the financial costs associated with the proceedings and possible lost wages. Sadly, there could be reputation damage even if nothing comes of the investigation. People may assume there could be some credibility to the charges, or else you wouldn’t have been accused. Finally, there is the possibility that the stress of all this may take a toll on your mental health. The stress of such a precarious, tumultuous, and frightening situation is bound to wear on anybody.
Q: How Do You Prove You Are Falsely Accused?
A: The first thing you should do to prove you have been falsely accused is find a criminal defense attorney. You want to be very careful about how you handle things in that situation, and an experienced defense attorney can help you navigate the process. From there, the attorney will help you establish a criminal defense. They will conduct an investigation and gather evidence for your position. They will also look for any evidence that can be used to demonstrate the lack of credibility of the accuser. They may even ask you to take a private polygraph test. There are also three things you should never do if falsely accused:
- -Never contact your accuser
- -Never destroy evidence that might be harmful to your case
- -Never communicate with the prosecutor or a police officer about the case without your attorney present
Q: What Kinds of Crimes Are People Falsely Accused of Committing?
A: It’s possible that someone could be falsely accused of any crime; however, some are more common than others, including:
- -Assault
- -Domestic Violence
- -Drug Possession
- -Theft
- -Sexual Assault
- -Child Abuse
It’s also worth recognizing that false accusation is not just limited to the criminal realm but can occur in civil matters. Some of these include false accusations of:
- -Race Discrimination
- -Gender Discrimination
- -Sexual Orientation Discrimination
- -Age Discrimination
- -Religious Discrimination
- -Disability Discrimination
Q: What Should You Do If Someone Falsely Accuses You of a Crime?
A: First and foremost, stay calm. This can often be difficult to do. It’s understandable that we might get angry, but far too often, a perfectly relatable reaction in the face of being falsely accused can end up being used against the same person in legal proceedings. Keep calm and comply with directions until you can speak with a lawyer. You will want to have a lawyer present as soon as possible and be very careful about saying anything to the police. They are trained to elicit confessions, even confessions that are false, through deceptive wordplay. A lawyer can recognize these tactics and help you answer their questions.
Get Help Defending Against A False Accusation
False accusations can be an awful situation on many levels. It’s disruptive and damaging for the falsely accused. It wastes the justice system’s time and, at worst, makes a mockery of it, sowing distrust in the system. More than anything, being falsely accused can be frightening. It’s hard for anyone to come out of the process unscathed, even if the accusation doesn’t result in a guilty verdict. However, you can better your chances with an experienced, talented lawyer on your side. We understand these cases and how to create a compelling, aggressive defense for our clients. If you need help defending yourself after a false accusation, contact us today.
