Davis County Utah

PROTECTING YOUR RIGHTS.

DEFENDING YOUR FUTURE.

QUICK QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

Call US – 801-449-1409

Stephen Howard — Criminal Defense Attorney

When should I contact a criminal defense lawyer?

It is almost never to early to talk with a lawyer. If you have reason to believe you are a suspect in a crime, if police want to talk to you, if you have received a subpoena or a summons from the court, if you discover an arrest warrant has been issued, or if you just want to clarify your rights and options, a good attorney can give you the information you need to protect your rights and help preserve potential defenses. The best time to contact a criminal defense attorney is when you first have questions or concerns.

The best criminal defense attorneys insist on fair courtroom procedures that respect clients’ rights.

What does a search warrant allow police to do? A judge or magistrate in Utah can issue a search warrant that authorizes police to search a specific location and to seize items, objects, records, or other evidence relating to a crime. Utah’s Supreme Court has stated that without a warrant, a search and seizure conducted by police is presumptively unreasonable. Without a warrant, a prosecutor must be able to… Read More
What should I expect if I am charged with a crime? What to expect will depend a lot on what kind of charge is filed and what the level of offense is. Police do not always arrest you on the spot. But the court may still issue an arrest warrant before the first court date is scheduled. The prosecutor can also ask the court to issue a summons — a notice… Read More
Should I talk to police about what happened? It is not always easy to tell if police view you as a suspect, a victim, or as a neutral witness. The safest advice is to talk with an attorney before talking with police about what happened or answering their questions. In many circumstances, there is not an immediate need to provide police with information. You are safer if you… Read More
What rights do I have after I am arrested? Being arrested does not change the rights you have, but it does make understanding those rights much more important. You do not have to wait to be read Miranda rights before you can exercise your right to remain silent. But just not answering questions doesn’t fully invoke those rights. You want to specifically state that you are exercising your 5th… Read More