What to Do If You Are Being Arrested
If you find yourself in a situation and are told that you are going to be arrested, here is some important basic advice:
You must clearly and calmly provide your name and identifying information when requested to do so, under most circumstances.
However, the same time, just because you need to comply with an arresting officer’s request for identification, you have no duty to answer any other questions.
Yes, you must provide your name and date of birth.
But if they start trying to dig into details of the alleged crime,you must say that you want a lawyer and that you will not answer any further questions until a lawyer is made available for you to consult with.
Don’t try and “tell your side of the story.” You have the right to remain silent. It’s natural to want to set the record straight. The side of the street or your living room is not the place to attempt to achieve that. But if you don’t remain silent, after invoking your right to counsel, anything and everything you say, or even haven’t said, can and will be used against you.
Don’t give officers permission to search your home, your car, your computer, your cell phone or any other location. without a warrant.
If officers have actual proof that you committed a crime and they want to search for it, let them convince a judge to provide a warrant-calmly and clearly repeatedly state:
I want a lawyer and I have nothing more to say to you.
If you or a loved one is being arrested or has been told they are going to be arrested, stand away from both your loved one and the officers. Tell the officers that your are calling your lawyer and call your lawyer immediately.
It will do neither you or your loved one any good for the two of you to go to jail together!
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