One of the worst nightmares you can face is to be falsely imprisoned, locked away for a crime you didn’t commit. It happens more commonly than you may think, and sometimes it’s based on the simplest kinds of mistakes.
Just recently, a California man spent a 12-day stint in jail after getting arrested for a drug crime he didn’t commit. As it turns out, the arrest was a mistake; it was based on a warrant with an error. Scarily enough, it wasn’t even the first time this individual went to prison on false premises; six years ago he spent 16 days in jail after a similar mistake on the part of law enforcement.
News reports state that the mistaken arrests came about from a case of identity theft. Years ago, a criminal had stolen the man’s identity, and he became linked to criminal activities that never involved him. But even though the DA’s office knew about this, he still had to suffer through a second arrest, along with days spent in jail (close to a month when you add up the times for his first and second arrest).
Clerical or bureaucratic errors can send people to jail more easily than you think. It can also take a while for the legal system to correct a mistake, assuming officials even become aware of the error to begin with. You need an experienced criminal lawyer on your side to review the evidence and the circumstances surrounding the arrest, and make sure there aren’t any mistakes with the warrant.
False imprisonment can lead to devastating personal and financial costs, including disrupted relationships, a tarnished reputation and loss of employment. Don’t hesitate to contact myself or an experienced attorney who will serve as your advocate in a justice system that doesn’t always act with justice.