If you are accused of a crime, the first step you will go through is the initial contact with the police. You will then be taken to the police station, where one or more officers will question you. Regardless of what the officer tells you, the first officer must have read you your rights at the initial arest before he or she is permitted to question you after the arrest.
During the questioning phase, the police will ask you a series of questions pertaining to the crime and few of the questions will include reverse psychology and psychology tactics to trick you into saying something that may or may not be true. Thus, the police do not have a right to lead you into saying false claims, nor do the police have the right to threaten or abuse you during questioning.
If you are innocent of the crime the best legal advice is to answer the questions calmly, however, if you are guilty and refuse to answer the questions, you should immediately ask to see a lawyer. If you do not have the money to pay for an attorney, under law you have the right to legal representation, which is handled by a court appointed attorney. Once you are sent to jail, the law must admit you to court within 72 hours and during the stay in jail (depending on the state), you have a right to a speedy trial. If any of these rights are violated, you can demand a mistrial.
Once you are at the preliminary hearing, you will be asked by the judge whether you want to plea guilty or innocent. By all means plea innocent and request a hearing. If you feel that you are innocent of committing the crime or that you did not commit it to the extent you have been indicted for, you should rightfully insist on your innocence, no matter what strategy you have in mind.
