If you have been arrested by a police officer, it’s important to protect your rights. What are your rights after an arrest? Here’s what you should know:
The right to know why you are being arrested.
A police officer must have a reason to arrest you, and he must inform you of that reason if you ask for it. If the police officer has a warrant for your arrest, you have the legal right to see the warrant. But, the police officer does not necessarily need to show you the warrant at the time of your arrest. It is your right to see the warrant within a reasonable amount of time after you have been arrested.
The right to remain silent.
The right to remain silent is one of the most important rights that you have, and you should always choose to exercise it if you have been arrested. You cannot be penalized for exercising this right, but you can hurt yourself if you choose not to exercise it. Anything that you say to a police officer or anyone can be used against you to prove your guilt. Even if you think you’re not saying anything incriminating, your statements can be taken out of context and twisted around by law enforcement. For these reasons, any good criminal defense attorney will tell you that you should always remain silent following an arrest.
The right to contact someone.
Everyone who has been arrested has the right to get in touch with someone to let that person know of the arrest. You may have seen on TV or in movies that people only get one phone call, but that is not always true. You are able to make multiple phone calls until you get ahold of someone.
The right to a criminal defense attorney.
If you have been arrested, you have the right to a criminal defense attorney, regardless of the severity of the charges that you face. In cases where jail time is a possible consequence of a conviction, you will have the right to a court-appointed attorney if you cannot afford to hire one on your own. It’s important that you ask for an attorney as soon as possible after you have been arrested. Do not sign anything or make any statements without first consulting with a criminal defense attorney about your case.
If you have been arrested, contact Reisch Law Firm as soon as possible. Our criminal defense attorneys will immediately step in to protect your rights and fight for the best possible outcome in your case. Schedule a free consultation today by calling 303-291-0555 or filling out this online form.
