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You are charged with a crime.   This means the police think you are guilty. You may or may not be guilty. Either way, the most important rule to follow at all times is: Never talk to anyone except your attorney or your attorney's staff about your case. Do not explain yourself. Do not say anything to anyone about your situation. Even if you say something perfectly innocent, there may be a way to use it against you and anyone can be used as a witness against you, even your relatives, friends and cell mates. Don't take a chance - talk only to your attorney.

If you are innocent.   Feel confident it will come out that way. You cannot talk your way out of being charged with a crime so don’t say anything to anybody about the case. Somebody thinks you are guilty and anything you say might complicate our job of establishing your innocence.

You may be guilty.   Even if you feel you've done something wrong, don't be discouraged. You may be guilty of a less serious offense than the one you are charged with. If you are proven guilty, your attorney can still help you get the best sentence available - whether probation, a short sentence or otherwise.

What you need to do to help yourself

Tell your attorney the whole story
You must be completely honest with your attorney.  My job is to help you and I am not allowed to tell anybody what you have told me except to help you.  If you have lied to me, I may take action on your behalf which will be impossible to correct when the truth comes out.  If you have told me something that is not true, do not be afraid to tell me the truth now.  I will not be angry at you.  I need to know the whole truth so I can represent your best interests without being surprised later on after it's too late to change my strategy.

Behave yourself
Between your arrest and your trial you must stay out of trouble.  The last thing you need is to go to trial with another problem hanging over your head.  Do not go and talk to potential witnesses.  Do not try to justify yourself to anyone.  Your friends don't need to hear it and people who think you are guilty won't believe it.  The only person you should communicate with about your case is your attorney.

If you are in a pre-trial detention center or jail
Be aware that telephone calls are monitored.  Be aware that your in-coming and outgoing mail may be opened and read.  Mail to and from your attorney will not be read if you write "Attorney Client Legal Mail" on the envelope.  Be aware that you may have to get prior approval before your family will be allowed to visit you.  If you want family members to visit, talk to detention center officials about getting them on your approved list of visitors and/or telephone numbers you are allowed to call.  Be aware that in order to purchase things in the commissary or make long distance telephone calls, you must have money deposited into your account with the detention center.