If you have been arrested for a criminal offense, you have rights. Knowing these rights before getting into any type of legal trouble can have a significantly-positive impact on the outcome. While it is good to know if your rights are being violated, it is decidedly not good to criminalize yourself by acting belligerent or talking too much before you speak with an attorney.
Of course the primary goal here is to not commit a crime and thus avoid getting arrested. But life does not always go as planned; sometimes people get arrested on suspicion of a crime they did not commit, and sometimes they make mistakes and actually do commit criminal offenses. We are not here to judge. Knowing your legal rights during an arrest can help you mitigate any impending damage. Contact an Orange County defense attorney if you have been arrested for any type of crime.
At The Law Offices of Bryan R. Kazarian, our highly-skilled, experienced legal team has successfully defended countless individuals against criminal charges. Getting arrested is a stressful experience and emotions can run high. As such, it is not uncommon for people to act out of character during an arrest, especially if they feel they are being wrongly accused. However, as criminal defense attorneys, we can tell you this with 100 percent certainty—it is much, much easier to defend against criminal charges if the defendant acted respectfully and wisely during arrest. Read on for more information about what to do, and what not to do, if you get arrested for any type of crime.
What You Should Do if Arrested
If you are being placed under arrest, there are several steps you can take to protect your rights. They are as follows.
- Remain silent. Considering that anything you say may be used against you in a court of law, the less you say, the better. Other than giving your name and identifying information such as birthdate and address, you do not have to answer any questions the police ask you.
- Behave in a polite and respectful manner, and remain calm.
- Ask to speak to an attorney before you answer any questions. Contact your attorney if you have one, and ask for one if you do not.
- Do not submit to any testing procedures until your attorney is present.
- Make a mental note of the officers’ badge numbers and patrol car numbers.
- If there are any witnesses present, try to identify them and get contact information.
- If you were injured during the arrest, take pictures of any visible injuries and seek immediate medical attention.
What You Should Not to Do if Arrested
Engaging in certain actions and behaviors during arrest can actually make things significantly worse. To protect your rights and avoid causing further complications for yourself:
- Do not yell or intentionally do anything that could upset the police. Remain respectful and polite at all times.
- Avoid describing, or in any way discussing, the details of the event.
- Never attempt to run from law enforcement. In addition to charges for the original offense, you may also end up facing charges for resisting arrest or evading police.
- Do not grant permission for the police to search your vehicle, home, or any of your belongings.
- Even if you are completely innocent, do not resist being arrested by contorting your body or attempting to touch the police in any way.
- Do not believe everything the officers say; they may lie to you to get you to talk. It is your right to remain silent and wait for an attorney to advocate on your behalf. Exercise this right.
- If police come to your home, do not go outside unless they have a warrant for your arrest. Also, do not allow police into your home without a warrant.
- If police happen to arrest you while you are outside your home, do not allow them to go inside with you to collect your belongings. Even without a warrant, once invited inside, they may begin to search your residence. The same goes for your vehicle.
Contact The Law Offices of Bryan R. Kazarian Today
The above information is good to know if you are ever placed under arrest, but if you have already been arrested for any type of crime in Orange County, the skilled legal team at The Law Offices of Bryan R. Kazarian can help. Our smart, tenacious lawyers and other professionals have been successfully defending clients against all types of charges for more than 16 years. Even during arrest for serious crimes, individuals have multiple rights. If police violated those rights at any time during the arrest or the investigation that followed, evidence obtained as a result may be deemed inadmissible. At The Law Offices of Bryan R. Kazarian, we know how to analyze the prosecution’s case to identify weaknesses and holes, and we will fight tirelessly to protect your rights, reputation, and freedom. Do not go through this difficult time alone; we can help. Contact us today at 855-918-4253 for a confidential consultation about your case.
