Wrongful Arrest

Augusta GA Criminal Defense Lawyer

We have all seen stories concerning people who were arrested and even subsequently convicted of crimes that they did not commit, so it is extremely important that law enforcement officials are certain that a crime has been committed before making an arrest. Wrongful arrests clearly have an enormous impact on the victim, but there is also a societal price to pay. People who have been wrongfully arrested have legal rights, and depending on the circumstances, they may be able to seek recovery for the damages caused by the false arrest, and in these instance it would be the taxpayers who ultimately pay the price.

In Georgia wrongful arrests by law enforcement officers are usually due to a lack of probable cause. If there was no sufficient proof that an individual committed a crime and he or she is detained by officials, this may constitute a case of false arrest. Wrongful arrests by law enforcement agencies do indeed take place, and anyone who has been arrested falsely should contact an experienced Georgia criminal lawyer a soon as possible. Also, no statements should be made until one has retained qualified counsel under any circumstances.

There is another type of wrongful arrest that does not directly involve law enforcement agencies. There are times when a citizen is detained by a security guard, or a store owner or someone who works at a business of some sort. It is illegal for anyone to detain another unless they actually witness a felony being committed. Should you be wrongfully arrested by a private party, you should definitely consult with a GA wrongful arrest attorney so that you can be fully apprised of your rights. Too often people accept the wrongdoing of others and ultimately just shrug it off. But when you do that, you are allowing someone to take away your freedom, even temporarily, without consequence, and this is simply not acceptable and it encourages them to continue this type of behavior.

It is important to send the message that it is not okay to detain without cause, and a good Georgia false arrest lawyer can help you do just that.