Know Your Rights: What You Should Understand When Getting Arrested – Guest Post

Getting arrested is a situation most of us never expect to happen. However, if you’re not prepared for this life-changing moment, your actions can completely change the trajectory of your life. Make sure your rights are protected if you’re ever arrested by keeping the following information in mind.

Stay Calm

Getting arrested may seem daunting, but it’s not the end of the world. It’s important to understand that you have certain rights, whether you are guilty or not. Use this information to keep you calm during an arrest. Remember to avoid physical confrontation with police, ask questions to learn why you’re being arrested, and make sure to tell your side of the story to authorities to protect yourself later. Remember to stay calm and reasonable without forgetting your rights. You don’t want to do anything to get yourself into even more trouble.

Understand the Miranda Warning

The Miranda warning legally must be given by police when they arrest you. This statement will help to protect you during your arrest. Your Miranda rights indicate that if your case ends up in court, the judge can use what you say during your arrest as evidence against you. This is a good reason to not say anything outside of what is necessary without a lawyer present. Even if tempted to defend yourself, choose your words carefully, as they can be misinterpreted and used against you later on.

Consult an Attorney Right Away

If you’re arrested, an important way to avoid costly mistakes is to consult with an attorney that specializes in your particular situation. For instance, if you’ve been arrested for drunk driving, contact a DWI attorney as soon as possible. If you can’t afford one, look into free or inexpensive legal services and explore your options for applying for financial aid. If all else fails, you have the right to an attorney assigned to you by the state. An attorney can help ensure that you protect your legal rights and help make sure that you protect yourself against false accusations.

Contact Family and Friends

If you can’t call an attorney in the situation of a potential arrest, you should let a loved one know about your situation. Even if your friends and family don’t have legal expertise, their support will make a difference in helping you navigate the stressful situation. If possible, designate one person to be your go-to emergency contact for anyone to call in case of legal trouble.

If you are arrested, it helps to know your emergency contact’s information by heart. This way, you can use your one phone call to reach out to your loved one and get help as soon as possible. Hopefully, your contact will be able to make bail and get you out of jail sooner than later.

Getting arrested can be an extremely stressful situation, and with the stakes being so high, it’s important to know what your rights are. Keep these four things in mind if you are ever arrested or in trouble with the police.