If you’ve ever watched a crime show on TV, you’ve probably heard the phrase “you have the right to remain silent,” but do you know what this means? This right is one of your Miranda rights, which are given to anyone who is taken into policy custody. No one should ever take this right for granted. If you are ever arrested, it’s very important that you understand the importance of exercising your right to remain silent.
People often think that if they just explain themselves to a police officer, he will let them off easy or cut them a deal. This is a huge mistake that could impact the outcome of your case. Police officers are trained to ask questions in a way that could get you to mistakenly admit guilt. The questions may be leading or confusing, especially when you are dealing with the stress of being arrested. Your answers may be taken out of context and then used against you in court to prove your guilt.
No one is perfect, so it is very likely that you will make small mistakes when relaying information to the police officers about what happened. These mistakes may be minor, but authorities may try to use them to show that your story is inconsistent and you aren’t telling the truth.
It’s important to note that everyone should exercise the right to remain silent—even if you are completely innocent.
How can you exercise your right to remain silent?
Now that you know the importance of staying quiet, you may be wondering how you can go about exercising your right to remain silent. If you are taken into police custody, politely inform the officer that you will be invoking your right to remain silent. Police officers are not allowed to question you if you have invoked this right, so do it early to prevent making any mistakes that could affect the outcome of your case. Make it clear that you will not answer any questions without your lawyer present.
The only questions that you have to answer after you have invoked your right to remain silent are those related to who you are. The police officer may ask you to identify yourself by providing your name. Even if you have invoked the right to remain silent, you can answer this type of question.
Besides the right to remain silent, you also have the right to an attorney. If you have been arrested, it’s imperative that you exercise this right as soon as possible and contact Reisch Law Firm. Schedule a consultation today by calling 303-291-0555 or filling out this online form.
