A lot of federal criminal charges stand for the end point of a process that starts with a criminal investigation and ends with the defendant’s formal indictment on particular offenses by a grand jury.
For the defendant, of course, the indictment is simply the beginning of what might be a long, tough struggle to defeat the charges or at least decrease any exposure to punishment.
Any opportunity to develop your possible defenses and assess your risk of conviction while the grand jury investigation is ongoing can provide you with an important advantage in achieving a positive result in your case.
Put differently, if you can start your defense before the grand jury makes a decision about the specific charges, if there is any, to return against you, you’ll almost certainly have a significantly stronger position than you otherwise could be.
The advice of an experienced criminal defense attorney who focuses on Austin Grand Jury Indictment proceedings, attention in the pre-indictment stage of the case can assist you in several ways, like the following:
- Clarify your status in the investigation: are you a witness, a subject, a person of interest or the main target?
- Advise you about your grand jury testimony or production of documents, records or any other evidence
- Answer your particular questions about the right against self-incrimination, which includes whether or not to “plead the Fifth”
- Avoid the mistakes that can result in obstruction of justice charges
- Start a parallel investigation of the facts that will help get the prosecution to minimize your own role in the alleged offenses
- Discourage the prosecution from trying to get the most serious potential charges against you
You will not get the right to have your defense attorney in the grand jury room with you if you are required to testify, but we can easily make sure that you are absolutely ready and we’ll be close by for consultations during breaks and also recesses.
The strategic and tactical decisions chosen in the grand jury proceedings will go far to shape the future progress of a federal prosecution, whether or not this involves fraud charges, bank robbery, Internet sex offenses, public corruption, drug crimes or other federal offense.
For particular advice concerning your current best options throughout a federal grand jury investigation in Austin, speak to an Austin federal criminal defense lawyer at our firm today.
Austin Grand Jury Indictment Attorney
Contents
The primary purpose of the grand jury indictment process is always to evaluate the evidence supplied by the prosecution as well as decide whether there exists sufficient probability to advance forward with an indictment per the provisions of the Fifth Amendment.
An indictment is a formal accusation of a felony which is sent by the grand jury proceedings after thoroughly considering the evidence that has been introduced by the prosecutor.
Primarily, an indictment is in regards to a felony crime in a grand jury trial.
Because of the serious character of grand jury indictments, grand jury perjury bears very similar penalties to those of perjury in some other federal or felony case.
In case you have received a Grand Jury Indictment in Austin, you will have to have a lawyer represent you in your case.
In case you have received a criminal indictment from a Grand Jury, then you most likely have either been arrested or will have a warrant issued for your arrest.
You may be able to have an attorney post your bond in case the judge has established a bond amount for you.
Becoming indicted by a Grand Jury is a very serious matter that you need to take action on immediately by getting an attorney represent you and, deal with your case personally.
There could be factors relating to your case that only a skilled attorney will be able to plead for you.
Have you got a knowledgeable lawyer who can represent you in court? All of our Austin criminal defense lawyers understand the laws that govern the rules of court and how to defend your case.
A criminal case is definitely a complex and sensitive matter that requires an expert to take care of properly.
State and Federal Grand Jury and Pre-indictment Defense
Whenever a defense attorney has the chance to represent a client prior to a grand jury’s return of an indictment, the client stands to benefit in many ways.
The ideal result is to convince the government not to pursue charges at all, yet often, a defense attorney seasoned with grand jury investigations may sway the pre-indictment proceedings to the client’s benefit.
Effective intervention at the grand jury stage can mean that the most serious possible charges are never returned against you.
For your totally free consultation concerning the best ways to protect your interests during the grand jury stage of a criminal investigation, speak to our Austin Grand Jury Indictment Lawyers immediately.
We understand exactly how prosecutors work with investigators to build up cases in the pre-indictment phase, and know how potential defendants can help or hurt themselves while the grand jury looks at the preliminary evidence.
Practically all major federal prosecutions as well as most state felony criminal cases are charged by grand jury indictment.
That means that the government’s lawyers offer evidence coming from an ongoing criminal investigation to a grand jury which then determines whether to return formal charges against one or more defendants in the form of an indictment.
Just as before, because you can’t be represented by an attorney in the grand jury room, your counsel can achieve a lot to secure your interests in such ways as the following:
- Keep track of the grand jury proceedings by meeting with witnesses and preserving close contact with the prosecution
- Carry out an independent investigation of the details that can deflect the prosecution’s interest away from you
- Give you advice about the best reaction to subpoenas for documents or testimony, contacts from law enforcement agents, or making preparations to testify before a grand jury
- Work out the turnover of documents or computer software as an alternative to an unannounced raid at your house . or place of business
In the federal system, pre-indictment defense during grand jury investigations can be most effective in fraud cases, corruption cases, and drug cases.
In the state system, early intervention is very advisable in sex crimes, drug cases, fraud and white collar crimes, as well as property offenses like auto theft or burglary.
At least, sound legal counsel in the pre-indictment stage can help protect you from the risk of mistakes that can lead to such charges as perjury or obstruction of justice.
To understand more about the advantage of experienced representation during a grand jury investigation Austin, contact our firm right away for a totally free consultation.
Federal Grand Jury Investigation Defense Attorneys
If you have never been subpoenaed to a grand jury hearing before, you may be confused by protocol and procedures.
Possibly you have heard the terms grand jury and subpoena on TV or in the movies, however till now, they had no meaningful link to anything related to your world.
In case you have been subpoenaed for a grand jury hearing to find out if there is probable cause to return an indictment and need legal advice and support, speak to the grand jury investigation defense attorneys in Austin at our firm right away.
Getting Subpoenaed
Each time a prosecutor such as an assistant U.S. attorney uses a grand jury to look into a person or a corporation, that person or corporation can be subpoenaed to produce documents, or called show up before a grand jury.
One could be called in as a witness, a subject (a person of interest) or a target (the focus of the investigation).
As one is summoned to testify before the grand jury of between 16 and 23 people, one could find, with respect to the evidence given, the response to questioning, that one goes from being a witness to becoming a subject or maybe a target.
One really needs the guidance of seasoned lawyers to assist in preparing to face a grand jury and advise of your legal right to refuse to testify in line with the fifth amendment privilege to remain silent.
Having the Help you need
We fully grasp the stress one may face when having to go before a grand jury so we provide a degree of legal defense that shows our dedication to our clients.
Be sure you speak with our lawyers prior to an appearance before a grand jury.
The service our Austin grand jury investigation defense attorneys provide is comprehensive – we work from this initial phase, on through possible trial as well as appeal if needed.
We work to find creative and legal remedies to your legal predicaments.
Speak to Our Firm right away for the help and assurance you need when facing an Austin grand jury investigation.
A defense that is zealously focused on helping achieve goals may make that important difference in the case.