When people face criminal charges, it sometimes feels impossible for them to share the entire truth about their situation with a criminal defense lawyer. There are a lot of reasons why you might feel the need to hold back information, or to distort the truth about what really happened regarding your case.
Sometimes defendants believe it is OK to withhold information from their criminal defense lawyer if they’re certain there’s no way it will ever come to light. But in today’s technologically advanced world, practically nothing can truly go undetected for long. Don’t count on others keeping secrets, and don’t count on the limitations of today’s technology. You never know what will be developed tomorrow.
You might also mistakenly feel that whatever you tell your criminal defense lawyer will ultimately be used against you in court. This is not necessarily true. What you are hiding or trying to hide might not actually matter to your case as much as you think it does, but being dishonest or withholding information will almost certainly discredit you and your lawyer in court.
If you want the best defense possible, don’t misrepresent or manipulate the truth. Allow your criminal defense lawyer to defend you to the greatest extent possible by informing him or her about all the facts related to your case. Be open and honest from the start to establish a relationship with your attorney that is built on trust. If you truly don’t trust your criminal defense lawyer, try discussing your apprehensions with him or her, and seek out another lawyer if your concerns aren’t resolved.