Being arrested is an unexpected situation and can have serious consequences if you don’t act correctly. This guide tells you what steps to take immediately, your fundamental rights, and why you need an expert criminal defense attorney from the very beginning.
At the time of arrest, the police must inform you of the reasons for the arrest and of your rights. Among these is the right to appoint a lawyer. It is essential
Article 520 of the Spanish Criminal Procedure Act recognises your right not to testify against yourself and not to confess guilt. Exercising this right is entirely legitimate. In practice, it is highly advisable to remain silent until you have specialised legal advice, even if there is pressure to make a statement.
The arrest must be documented in a police report (arrest record) which must include, at a minimum:
– The time and place of the arrest.
– The specific reason for the arrest.
– The identification of the officers involved.
This document will be key at the judicial stage. If your criminal defence lawyer identifies irregularities in the arrest (lack of legal grounds, defective information on rights, excessive detention time, etc.), they may seek to challenge the lawfulness of the arrest or request the exclusion of any evidence derived from it.
Having a criminal defence lawyer in Barcelona from the outset makes a real difference to the outcome of the proceedings. Among other functions, your lawyer will:
– Monitor the legality of the arrest.
– Protect your fundamental rights at the police station and in court.
– Design a strategy before any statement is made.
– Advise you on whether to make a statement or remain silent.
– Inform your family members or trusted persons of your situation.
Delaying the lawyer’s intervention can result in harmful statements, unnecessary precautionary measures, a criminal record and even pre-trial detention.
Throughout my career as a criminal defence lawyer in Barcelona, I have been involved in numerous proceedings relating to:
– Economic and white-collar crimes.
– Offences against public health (drug trafficking).
– Gender-based violence and domestic violence.
– Property offences (robbery, theft, fraud, misappropriation, etc.).
– Legal assistance to detainees at police stations and duty courts.
I have provided legal assistance at police stations of the Mossos d’Esquadra, Guardia Urbana, Guardia Civil and National Police, as well as before the Investigating Courts, the Provincial Court and other judicial bodies. Each case requires speed, procedural expertise and a personalised defence strategy, especially in the first hours following an arrest.
My professional career has been recognised with a nomination to Best Lawyers® 2026, an international distinction that values excellence, experience and the trust placed by other legal professionals.
This recognition reinforces my commitment to:
– Rigorous and technically sound criminal defence.
– Strategic preparation of interrogations and court hearings.
– Maximum protection of clients’ fundamental rights.
– The constant pursuit of favourable rulings and acquittals.
If you or a family member has been arrested, acting quickly is essential. An immediate call to a criminal defence lawyer can prevent mistakes that are difficult to reverse.
– Emergency phone (24 hours): +34 618 30 68 91
– Criminal defence law firm in Barcelona – Assistance to detainees and comprehensive criminal defence.
Being arrested does not mean being guilty, but it does mean that the decisions you make in those first moments can have a significant impact on your future. Effective criminal defence begins at the police station. If you are looking for a criminal defence lawyer in Barcelona with experience and professional recognition, contact me to receive technically sound and personalised defence from the very first minute.
The Supreme Court has handed down a landmark ruling for the defence of criminal offences against road safety. In its ruling STS No. 850/2025 of 16 October, the Second Chamber establishes that a person who drives a vehicle after having served a full sentence of deprivation of their driving licence does not commit a crime, […]
Read more
In an increasingly demanding criminal law environment, where specialisation makes the difference between a generic defence and an effective defence, Joaquín has established himself as a criminal lawyer, with a career focused on cases of greater legal complexity and social sensitivity. His professional practice is characterised by rigorous, strategic and deeply technical defence, always aimed […]
Read more
The offence of sexual assault constitutes one of the most serious crimes against sexual freedom and is characterised by a high level of legal and evidentiary complexity. Its regulation has undergone significant reforms in recent years, which requires up-to-date technical knowledge of both the Criminal Code and the case law of the Supreme Court and […]
Read more
