THE COMPLAINT

Most criminal cases begin when someone files a complaint and the U.S. attorney decides whether or not to bring the facts to the Grand Jury for an Indictment against you. Since the Grand Jury meets in secret, you may have no idea of what is happening until you hear a knock on your door and you are taken away in handcuffs.

In this country, isn't a defendant innocent until proven guilty? If so, then why is it that when a person is charged with a crime, he is usually arrested and sometimes held in jail until an appearance or arraignment, where he will need to be represented by an attorney. Perhaps he was allowed to make a phone call, but how many of us ever thought we would need a criminal lawyer's phone number in our address books? At some point the defendant may be required to post bail?

A defendant in a Federal proceeding stands little chance of winning. It is a game much like Las Vegas. The government is "the house" and the defendant is the gambling tourist. You have no idea at first that you practically have no chance. In fact, many people believe they will win at trial because they are innocent and believe that once they get the chance to tell the jury their story, they will win. I assure you that this is not the case.