Sometimes the truth is the best defense

When you are faced with criminal charges in South Carolina, your immediate instinct might be to deny everything in order to protect yourself as much as possible. However, this is not always the wisest course of action. Being caught out on a minor detail could undermine your future testimony as authorities may be less willing to take your word at face-value.

Criminal defense is a complicated matter and a method that works well for one person may not be helpful at all for another. The course you choose depends heavily on your circumstances and on how you intend to plead. Often, you are working to preserve reasonable doubt in terms of your alleged guilt. As long as this remains, you are considered innocent by law.

However, there are times when honesty really is the best policy. It could allow you to explain the reasons for your actions and work toward negotiating a plea deal, even if conviction seems imminent. In some cases you may wish to admit to certain charges in order to emphasize your denial of others.

As this article on criminal defense explains, telling your version of the truth can also be used to frame your story of events that transpired. It can be difficult to pick these out or to sort through the details that you should or should not be open with during your investigation. Fortunately you do not need to make these decisions alone.

An attorney can help you decide on the most sensible course of action to take given your circumstances. He or she may also be able to support you in building your defense and working toward a reduced sentence, a favorable plea deal or even the total avoidance of conviction.