Was your loved one arrested by federal agents?

What to Do When Your Loved One Is Indicted by a Grand Jury

Introduction

The grand jury indicted your loved one. After this occurred, federal agents arrested him and placed him in custody until court proceedings could begin. Federal agents may also have arrested your loved one without an arrest warrant. In this case, they took your loved one before a judge, and the judge determined whether or not there is probable cause that your loved one committed the crime. Now, you have several things that you must do in the meantime.

1. Contact a Federal Criminal Defense Attorney

The first thing that you must do is contact a federal criminal defense attorney. Your loved one’s attorney will explain all of the processes involved in the case and make sure that your loved one’s best interests are served in court. It is imperative that the attorney you hire is a federal criminal defense attorney because other attorneys are not necessarily familiar with the federal court system.

2. Let Your Loved One Know that He Has the Right to Remain Silent

The investigators can be very coercive during interrogations, but you must remind your loved one that he has the right to remain silent. This is even more important if your loved one is not guilty of the crime. Investigators may try to befriend your loved one so that he will trust them, but he must not trust them. You will be able to visit your loved one if he is being held in a facility, so you can remind him that he has the right to remain silent. Also, let him know that the facility cannot punish him if he refuses to answer investigators’ questions.

3. Make Sure that Your Loved One Only Speaks to Investigators in the Presence of His Attorney

Your loved one has the right to remain silent, but this isn’t always the best plan. Sometimes, speaking to the investigators is beneficial to your loved one, but this must only be done in the presence of his attorney. Federal investigators are skilled at convincing people to make incriminating statements, so you must tell your loved one not to answer questions unless his attorney is present.

4. Gather Documents that Will Be Important in the Case

Begin this step as soon as possible. Your loved one’s attorney is going to need all of the documents that you can put together. If your loved one was arrested at home, the federal agents may have left documents for you to review. You will need to keep these documents with the others so that you can give them to your loved one’s attorney.

5. Learn the Reason for the Arrest

If your loved one was arrested at home, the agents may have told you the reason for the arrest. If the agents failed to inform you of the charges, you will learn them during the initial appearance. The judge will also make sure that your loved one understands his rights. Your loved one may be able to go home with you after this initial appearance, but if the judge determines that your loved one is a danger, he will remain in custody until the trial begins.

6. Go to the Initial Appearance

You must not miss your loved one’s initial appearance because you need to demonstrate to the court that your loved one has your support. You also need to learn as much as you can about the case. The first place you will need to go is the pretrial services office. This is where you will answer any questions they may have for you. You do not want to skip this step because your answers to the questions could make it possible to have your loved one released. Then, you can go to the courtroom and discuss the case with your loved one’s attorney.

7. Learn the Name of the Facility Where Your Loved One Will Be Placed

If your loved one is not going to be released after the initial appearance, find out where he will be held. Then, call the facility and find out when you may visit and then visit your loved one as soon as you can. You may also find out how to put money in your loved one’s account so that he can purchase the items that he needs.

8. Go to the Arraignment

After you hire a criminal defense attorney for your loved one, she will appear in court at the arraignment. During the arraignment, the judge will inform your loved one of the charges. This is when your loved one will need to enter a plea. Because you hired an attorney right away, your attorney may be able to arrange a plea bargain for your loved one. If this is the case, your loved one will agree to plead guilty to the current charges or other charges. In the event that your loved one will plead “not guilty,” the judge may set bail.

9. Hire a Bail Bondsman

If the judge grants your loved one bail, you may need to hire a bail bondsman. You may be required to sign a Personal Recognizance Bond as a financially responsible person in this case.

The most important thing for you to remember is that you should not panic. Following the advice in this article will help you move this process forward in the smoothest fashion.