Investigators would like nothing more than for you to sit idly and allow them to methodically build their case against you. They often prefer to work slowly, unimpeded by actions you might be able to take to defend your rights.
Please do not make their job any easier by waiting for them to finish. Here are some actions you could take if you suspected you might be the target of an investigation.
1. Learn your rights
It would typically be your responsibility to know your rights. Some should be familiar. For example, you would have the right to remain silent if investigators asked you about your relationships with colleagues, associates or acquaintances.
You could have other rights as well. Police might imply asserting your rights would hurt your case. They would probably not mention everything that could strengthen your case. Learning how to make the most of your position is your job and the job of anyone ethically bound to further your best interests — not the responsibility of police, prosecutors or investigators.
2. Collect information
Knowledge could help you in this type of situation. You could start by organizing information relevant to the events surrounding the investigation. No detail is too small. This could also help prepare you for legal discussions, should you decide to retain counsel at some point.
3. Act logically
Please do not make any assumptions if you are under investigation. Investigators build cases by following strict, logical protocols. Prosecutors follow relatively predictable patterns in their actions. If you understand this procedure, it is typically possible to guide a case to its best possible outcome.
Finally, please guard your statements wisely. We have seen many criminal defense cases weakened by statements made to investigators, on social media and so on. If there is something you do not understand, even if it seems minor, please consider getting relevant, case-specific information from reliable sources — before you take action.
