We live in a world where we all must follow particular laws. When people talk about law, there is absolutely no other are that is widely misinterpreted and even misunderstood by popular culture like criminal law. People who haven’t had any experience dealing with the police, or haven’t been in any type of trial, would assume that everything that is happening to the books, televisions shows, and movies that has got something to do with the process of criminal justice, is accurate. That is where all the legal myths come from, which is why we have come up with the most common ones and set the record straight once and for all for the benefit of the doubt.
THE RIGHT FOR A PHONE CALL
The very first myth that most people believe in is that when a person gets arrested, he or she has the right to make a phone call. It is very important for everyone to know that this is not actually stated as a criminal right in every state or country.
There are places that gives the person arrested the right to contact their legal representation but there are also places that they would have to contact them for the person arrested. For instance, if you have been arrested, the police will then tell you why they are arresting you for, or they would show a warrant of arrest that has been issued against you, but the right to contact anyone depends on where you are.
YOU CAN ONLY BE CHARGED WITH A CRIME IF SOMEONE PRESSED CHARGES
When people talk about the idea of pressing charges, most often misunderstand it. However, it is actually very simple, anyone involved with a crime may choose or refuse to press charges to the other person involved. However, prosecutors have the power to press charges especially if the witness is no longer willing to cooperate with the ongoing investigation.
CASES ALWAYS GO TO TRIAL
When there is a crime or case involved in a film, everything always go to trial. Well, in real life, it actually doesn’t happen all the time. There are some cases that get dismissed even before they get into trial so it doesn’t reach the trial phase. Trial cases are not exactly as cool or as dramatic as what people see in the films. If a case involves notable people in the society or if a case is big and scandalous such as murder of any kind, it might get into trial. Criminal law revolves around such complicated field that you certainly not want to get to, but it wouldn’t hurt to learn the basics.
SAYING “IN MY OPINION” IS A DEFENSE AGAINST DEFAMATION
It is a fact that an opinion is a defense against libel, however, it would always depend on the context. It is indeed difficult to tell what the differences are between a statement and an opinion. So it would depend on how good your lawyer is to defend you and how the prosecutors would decide, but you cannot always get away by saying it is your opinion.
ANYONE WHO ARE GOOD AT ARGUING CAN BE A GOOD LAWYER
Just because someone is so good at arguing or debating with other people don’t mean that they could be good lawyers. Being an attorney is much more than that, lawyers doesn’t always go into trials, so they don’t always need to argue.
Lawyers are more known to be articulate, organized, good at time management, have such complicated and detail continues minds. So if you posses any of these besides being good at arguing, then why not try getting into law school.
Most people think that ignorance is not a sin, because you don’t know that you’re doing something wrong. However, if you know that the information is readily available and you simply refuse to know about it, then that is definitely a sin. That is why it is best to share this article to those people who you know believes in myths and misconceptions about the law.
