A LAYMAN'S GUIDE TO CRIMINAL DEFENSE By FEDERICO A. DE LA PEÑA, ESQ. and MARY J. DE LA PEÑA, ESQ. It may start with a knock on your door with the police wanting to talk to your son. Or, worse yet, a frantic phone call from someone you love in the middle of the night. - WHAT DO YOU DO? - SHOULD WE SPEAK WITH THE POLICE WITHOUT A LAWYER? - HOW DO YOU GET YOUR LOVED ONE OUT OF JAIL? - WHO DO YOU CALL? - WHAT COMES NEXT? - CAN THE AUTHORITIES LIE TO ME WHEN QUESTIONING ME? - WHAT IF THEY DON'T READ ME MY MIRANDA RIGHTS-AM I FREE TO GO? - SHOULD WE GET AN ATTORNEY? - IS IT A "SELL OUT" IF MY LAWYER WANTS ME TO TAKE A DEAL? - WHAT HAPPENS IF I GO TO TRIAL? - CAN'T I ALWAYS JUST APPEAL? - WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT MY LAWYER TO DO FOR ME THAT I CAN'T DO FOR MYSELF? All of these questions, and more, are answered in this easy to read book on everything a non-lawyer needs to know to understand the criminal justice system. It is written for everyday people who are not acquainted with the courts of the terms the courts and police use. The California criminal defense team of Mr. and Mrs. de la Peña has been answering these questions for more than four decades, with combined experience nearing seventy years of practice. They are some of the most highly awarded names in criminal defense in the United States, as recognized by judges and other lawyers. "We want our clients, and the public, to know how the criminal justice system works. Hopefully, with this knowledge, new lawyers and the public will understand when to cooperate, and when to keep quiet, but most of all, when to seek help from an experienced lawyer." F. A. DE LA PEÑA, attorney at law