Meeting and gaining rapport with the defendant

Meeting and gaining rapport with the defendant

Like those who are accused of white-collar crimes, a client accused of a computer crime is likely to be unfamiliar with the criminal justice system. Therefore, the proceedings may seem more onerous and frightening to them than to the typical recidivist client, often seen by many criminal law attorneys. In addition, the client may have so immersed himself or herself in the field of computing that even an ordinary citizen's awareness of how our judicial system works is beyond the client's awareness. There is no typical computer criminal. A variety of motives propel those who commit computer crimes. Understanding the range of motivations behind computer crimes is likely to assist counsel for the defense. It may soon appear, for example, that a client has acted in such a way as to come to the attention of law enforcement authorities out of ignorance of the law, or due to pressing financial or emotional difficulties or an unthinking rage.

Defendants in computer crime cases have attempted to commit other crimes while on bail including threatening witnesses, and being quite vocal in the press. Consequently, it may be necessary to be extremely patient and understanding of the client's difficulties rather than attempting to dispatch all business as quickly as possible.