Criminal Defense Attorneys in Tacoma: Why You Need One
If you've been accused of a criminal act or charged with one, the first thing you should do is research criminal defense attorneys in Tacoma. Tacoma Attorney Harry S. Steinmetz offers sound legal advice on why you need one based on his extensive experience with Washington State and United States federal law.
Why You Need a Criminal Defense Attorney
You do not have to make any statement or give any information to the police without a lawyer present. The Fifth Amendment of the Constitution grants you the right not to talk to the police.
Do not talk to officers of the law without an attorney present. It will not help you. Unfortunately, no one has ever talked their way out of a charge if the police are focused on a suspect. If you are suspected of a felony or misdemeanor, contact the Tacoma criminal defense law firm of attorney Harry S. Steinmetz immediately. As expressed on these critical YouTube videos called Don't Talk to the Cops, Part 1 and Part 2, here are some facts about self-incrimination:
- You cannot talk your way out of being arrested
- Nothing you tell the cops will help you in a trial. Information, as stipulated by the Miranda rights, can and will be used against you in court. It will not be used for you.
- You may admit guilt for the crime with no benefit for your confession. Your attorney can most likely get you a lesser punishment.
- Even if you are innocent, you may make a small mistake during interrogation that incriminates you. People get carried away proving their innocence and accidentally let slip a mistake or fib.
- Even if you tell the absolute truth of your innocence, you will always give some piece of information that will incriminate you in trial.
- Even if you tell the absolute truth of your innocence, and do not give a piece of incriminating information, your words can be used against you in court if the police do not accurately recall what you said.
- Even if your interview with the police is videotaped, your answers can still be used against you if the police do not recall their questions accurately.
- Even if you tell them absolutely nothing incriminating and all parts of the Q&A are videotaped, seemingly innocuous statements can lead to mistaken or unreliable pieces of evidence or a witness who refutes part of your testimony.
“Even guilty people, but not only guilty people,
will always end up regretting talking to the police.”
The police can take advantage of your stress and confusion to get you to incriminate yourself. The police can legally trick you or lie to you to get you to say something incriminating. And they will! Please do not talk to the police and call a criminal defense lawyer in Tacoma immediately if you are contacted by the police.
Domestic violence considerations
If the police answer a call for a domestic violence charge, they must make an arrest to separate the parties. At the arraignment, the courts error on the side of caution and often impose a no contact order with the alleged victim. This can mean that you must move out of your house and have no contact with your family. If you are convicted, even for a minor offense, it can affect your gun rights in Washington. If you are arrested for any kind of domestic violence charge, you need to contact an experienced attorney immediately.
Using mental issues against suspect
A suspect may not be mentally capable of talking to the police. Police can take advantage of people’s mental problems when trying to elicit a confession during the interrogation, or interview process. The exploited issues can include retardation and schizophrenia, among many others. The police and prosecution can use these statements in court to incriminate you, regardless of your mental state.
Related links
- Flex Your Rights: a non-profit organization whose mission is to inform citizens about their rights when dealing with police
- The Innocence Project: a non-profit organization of defense attorneys throughout the country dedicated to exonerating those wrongly convicted of felony charges
If you or a loved one has been accused of DUI, a criminal felony or a juvenile crime, contact Harry S. Steinmetz for skilled, aggressive legal representation at (253) 579-1113 today.





