“Hiding” doesn’t mean you have to drive a family member to an isolated location to hide them. Simply letting a family member on an active warrant crash at your place can count as “hiding. ” You can’t let your family member live with you if they have an active warrant. [3] X Research source
If your family member can’t tell you where the goods came from, then you should say, “I’m sorry, I don’t have the room” or “I don’t think I can keep that safe. ”
You also shouldn’t lend them property. Don’t let a family member with an active warrant borrow your car. Instead of giving money, you should encourage your family member to go to the police and surrender. This may be difficult for you to do. Nevertheless, your family member faces a lifetime of running from the police if they don’t turn themselves in. It is better to face the consequences directly.
You should avoid any contact with a family member who has an active arrest warrant. If they call, tell them to turn themselves in.
Phone book. Ads in the phone book should point out if the lawyer does criminal defense work. Other attorneys. They are a great source of referrals. If you used an attorney to buy a house, then ask him or her for a referral to a criminal defense attorney. People you know. Some people won’t admit that they have used a criminal defense attorney in the past. However, if you know someone has used a defense attorney in the past, you can ask if they would recommend that person. Your local or state bar association. Bar associations are organizations made up of attorneys. If you call one, they can give you a referral to one of their members.
Check your savings accounts. Use a credit card. Cash out savings bonds or stock. Sell possessions that you don’t need.
Print off bank statements to show how much money your family member has. Estimate the value of assets. Assets are anything like jewelry, art, real estate, stocks, bonds, or the cash value in a life insurance policy. [9] X Research source Gather information about monthly income. You typically have to report income from a job, as well as any retirement or disability income, public assistance, and unemployment compensation.
Remember that even if you help pay for an attorney, he or she still represents your family member, not you. For this reason, the attorney cannot share confidential information with you. [10] X Research source However, you should stay in close contact with your family member after they are arrested. They can keep you updated about their case.
Someone committed a felony. In this situation, your family member committed a crime, and he or she is called the “principal. ” You helped aid or hide the principal. When you helped the principal, you knew he or she had committed the felony or you knew they had been charged with a felony. Your intent for helping the principal was to help them avoid arrest.
The easiest way would be to meet for a consultation with a criminal defense attorney. You can ask them if your law punishes aiding and abetting family members. You also might do research online. Type “your state” and “aiding and abetting” into your favorite search engine. Remember that ignorance of the law is no excuse for breaking it. If your state punishes aiding and abetting, you can’t defend yourself by saying, “I thought my state was one of the 14 that protected family members from punishment. ” You are expected to know the law.
Accordingly, you could face jail time or be put on probation if you are convicted of aiding and abetting a family member. For this reason, it is always safest to encourage family members to turn themselves into the police.
