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Practical defence for arrest, questioning, searches, detention measures, allegations and appeals.
A criminal defence lawyer protects the client through arrest, questioning, search, charge, detention measures, trial and appeal. In an emergency, do not give a substantive account or sign a document without understanding its content and your status; request confidential access to counsel and preserve an accurate record of timing and participants.
Before speaking with police, establish the procedural status, whether attendance is compulsory, whether the exchange is recorded and whether confidential access to counsel is available. The Criminal Procedure Code requires the interviewer to explain, before an interview, the interviewee's right to use a defence lawyer and not disclose information against himself or a close relative.
A witness should understand status, the form of testimony, the boundary of personal knowledge, interpretation needs and any self-incrimination risk; witness status does not remove the need for practical protection.
During a search or seizure, check the legal basis, scope, participants, exact inventory, handling of digital devices and receipt of the record; objections should be documented safely and lawfully.
A preventive measure is not punishment; the court assesses specific procedural risks and whether a less restrictive measure is sufficient, so ties, residence, health, conduct and alternatives should be evidenced.
In the first hours of an investigation, confirm the person's status and location, secure confidential access to counsel, an interpreter and medical care, and, if there is an arrest, control the rights explanation, arrest record and 72/48-hour checkpoints; family and consular issues should be integrated into the evidence-preservation plan.
An allegation involving property, deception or violence should be separated into conduct, intent, loss, possession and evidence; the label used by a complainant does not determine final legal classification.
In a drug case, identity and quantity of the substance, circumstances of recovery, search and laboratory procedure, and the person's knowledge or intent require separate review.
A corporate investigation requires separation of individual and company interests, lawful preservation of data, transaction tracing, an authority map and clear privileged scope for any internal review.
After a collision, safety and medical care come first, followed by preservation of the scene, driver condition, vehicles, cameras, witnesses, injuries and police records; insurance and criminal issues develop in parallel.
Call 112 where there is immediate danger; a police restraining order and a court protective order are distinct temporary-protection mechanisms and may operate alongside a criminal investigation.
Appeals, plea agreements, extradition and Interpol-related matters engage different jurisdictions, evidence and remedies; an outcome in one process does not automatically govern another.
On arrest or recognition as an accused, a person must be informed in a language they understand of the allegation and the rights to counsel, silence and protection against self-incrimination. Georgia's Legal Aid Service reported 14,369 criminal cases in 2024, making the first response, arrest record, interpreter, medical examination and evidence preservation urgent practical issues.
After arrest, immediately clarify status, the exact time, the suspected offence and the rights to counsel, silence, protection against self-incrimination, an interpreter and medical care; 72 hours and the no-later-than-48-hour indictment checkpoint must be tracked separately.
Before questioning, know your status, purpose, silence right, counsel access and interpreter need.