Oklahoma Criminal Defense Attorney

“We the jury find the defendant guilty!”  If you or a loved one face criminal charges, you never want to hear those condemning words.  The Law Office of Elliott C. Crawford, P.C. is zealously dedicated to representing those accused of criminal offenses.  My goal is simple: to represent your legal interests with the utmost diligence, excellence, and passion.  My philosophy is simple: I believe in quality rather than quantity.  As such, I differ from most criminal defense attorneys in that I do not take on too many cases at a time because I feel that when my client’s life and freedom are at stake, anything less than a 110% commitment is unsatisfactory.

The criminal process can be very confusing and intimidating for the accused and the accused’s family.  Thus, I believe in educating my clients and their families not only on the judicial process, but also on every legal aspect relevant to the case.  My strategy is simple: the best defense is a good offense.  In other words, I’m very aggressive.  In choosing a criminal defense attorney, do not retain a timid lawyer who will attempt to cut a deal in order to avoid the courtroom.  When you are charged with a criminal offense, YOU NEED TO WIN AND WIN CONVINCINGLY!!

If you have been arrested and charged with a criminal offense

NEVER RESIST ARREST

If you are arrested, cooperate and never resist arrest.  Resisting arrest will only escalate physical force by law enforcement and lead to additional charges. Immediately inform the officer that you will go peacefully, invoke your right to remain silent and request to have an attorney present during questioning.

INVOKE YOUR RIGHT TO REMAIN SILENT AND HAVE AN ATTORNEY PRESENT

If you have been arrested for a criminal offense, it’s paramount that you exercise your constitutional rights to remain silent and have an attorney present during questioning.  As soon as your Miranda warnings are issued and you express that you do not wish to talk without an attorney present, law enforcement is required by law to cease questioning. 

Remember, POLICE OFFICERS ARE NOT YOUR FRIENDS!! Law enforcement officers are trained to elicit statements to use against the accused in court.  Despite what they tell you, police officers will neither “cut you a break” nor “help you” by “informing the assistant district attorney that you were cooperative”.  Do not fall for these tricks! 

DO NOT TALK TO ANYONE

Do not discuss the details of your case with family, friends, or inmates.  It’s a very common practice for the prosecution to utilize “jailhouse snitches” who, in return for a reduced sentence, allege that the accused confessed the crime while in jail.

POST BOND AS SOON AS POSSIBLE

After arrest and booking, a judge must set the amount of bond before you can be released.  In some instances, the judge may grant an Own-Recognizance Bond (“O.R. Bond”) which does not require payment for release (see “Criminal Process”).  If not granted an O.R. Bond, make arrangements through a bondsman to secure your release.  The sooner you are released from jail, the sooner you can start putting your life back together.

SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT WITH AN ATTORNEY IMMEDIATELY

After charges have been filed, TIME IS CRITICAL!!  After a crime has been committed, witnesses forget details, evidence gets lost or destroyed, etc.  Schedule an appointment with a criminal defense attorney as soon as possible to develop your case’s strategy.  Inform your attorney of witnesses and evidence that may help or impair your case.  It’s very important to be completely honest with your attorney about your criminal background and the facts surrounding the alleged offense.  Remember that whatever is discussed between you and your attorney is protected by the attorney-client privilege.  Being less than 100% honest with your attorney will only hurt your case.

NEVER REPRESENT YOURSELF

“A man who represents himself has a fool for a client.”
- Abraham Lincoln

Even if you have watched more Law & Order episodes than anyone else, you should never attempt to represent yourself in a criminal trial.  Criminal law is more complex than most people think.  In order to prevail, one must be well-versed in criminal procedure and substantive law, evidence and rules of the criminal courts.  Furthermore, each and every stage of the criminal process is unique and encompasses different strategies and formalities.  Finally, simply having an attorney by your side will force the prosecution and the court to take you seriously.     

Contact Elliott C. Crawford about your legal matter today!

DISCLAIMER

The information on this website is for general information purposes only.  Nothing on this website, or associated pages, documents, comments, answers, emails, or other communications should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation.  The information on this website is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing of this information does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.