Ron Burgandy famously said, “I’m kind of a big deal.” Well, if you are under criminal investigation your post offense conduct is sort of a “big deal.”

The unfortunate reality is many people who are under criminal investigation make decisions that exacerbate their problems. They don’t mean to make troubles worse. Yet if they don’t understand what’s coming, what options they have, or where to turn for information that will help them make better decisions, they’re vulnerable.

Experience as a former prisoner and current federal prison consultant has taught me many targets who are under criminal investigation talk themselves into a criminal indictment.

They may eliminate opportunities for a diversion from prosecution. Or they may expose themselves to tougher sanctions.

Competent legal counsel is essential. But if an individual doesn’t have any experience with the criminal law, a primer on the system may be of help, too. With more knowledge, a layman will feel more competent when working with a criminal lawyer. Without knowledge, a person will always feel as if he’s operating from a position of darkness, never knowing what’s around the next turn.

By learning about the criminal justice system, a person can arm himself to work more effectively with lawyers. He may understand how to resolve complex dilemmas better. Although he may not like the limited choices available, he may feel more confident that he is going to make the best possible choice. When a person understands the context, opportunity costs, and ramifications that follow each decision, that person empowers himself.

We can paraphrase an old Chinese proverb:

• If you want to know the road ahead, ask someone that has come back.

If you are under criminal investigation, it makes a great deal of sense to invest time and energy to learn.

By learning, a person can make more informed decisions. Operating without knowledge makes us feel as if we’re hanging from a string as if we’re marionette puppets. To stop that helpless feeling and restore confidence, we need to learn, then we need to make deliberate decisions that will influence best-possible outcomes.

Acquiring knowledge and becoming more literate about the system is a first step. As the cliché holds, the greatest fear is the fear of the unknown.

If you would like to take that first step towards learning and making better decisions, I encourage to start by reading the blogs and videos we create for you.

If you would like to schedule a call to get more advice, click here.

Justin Paperny