What do cops say

The police are at my door Your rights and how to reduce risk to yourself You should not invite the officer into your house. Talk with the officers through the door and ask them to show you identification. You do not have to let them in unless they can show you a warrant signed by a judicial officer that lists your address as a place to be searched or that has your name on it as the subject of an arrest warrant.

Ask the officer to slip the warrant under the door or hold it up to the window so you can read it. A search warrant allows police to enter the address listed on the warrant, but officers can only search the areas and for the items listed.

An arrest warrant has the name of the person to be arrested. Even if officers have a warrant, you have the right to remain silent. You should not answer questions or speak to the officers while they are in your house conducting their search. Stand silently and observe what they do, where they go, and what they take. Write down everything you observed as soon as you can.

Memorize the phone numbers of your family and your lawyer. Make emergency plans if you have children or take medication. Your rights Say you wish to remain silent and ask for a lawyer immediately. You have the right to make a local phone call. How to reduce risk to yourself Do not resist arrest, even if you believe the arrest is unfair. Do not try to talk your way out of jail, or make any decisions about your case, without first talking to a lawyer. Do not participate in a lineup, or do anything else with regards to your case, until you see a lawyer.

If you are arrested and charged with a crime, you are entitled to the assistance of an attorney. You should contact an experienced criminal defense attorney or the local public defender's office to talk about your case. An attorney will be able to tell you how your case is likely to fare in court and what to expect as you navigate the criminal justice system. Working with a good attorney is the best way to protect your rights and obtain the best possible outcome in your case.

The information provided on this site is not legal advice, does not constitute a lawyer referral service, and no attorney-client or confidential relationship is or will be formed by use of the site. The attorney listings on this site are paid attorney advertising. In some states, the information on this website may be considered a lawyer referral service. Please reference the Terms of Use and the Supplemental Terms for specific information related to your state.

Market Your Law Firm. Lawyer Directory. Call us at 1 What is an Arrest? An officer can only arrest a person if: the officer sees the person commit a crime the officer has probable cause reason to believe that the person has committed a felony any crime punishable by state prison , or a judge or magistrate has issued an arrest warrant, supported by probable cause.

Do Not Use Force In the overwhelming majority of situations, one does not have the right to resist arrest. Even an honest statement to the police by someone who's innocent can be a problem.

For one thing, the statement might contain inadvertent inaccuracies or inconsistencies that the prosecution will later pounce upon. A person under arrest almost never benefits by talking to the police.

Instead, a person in that situation should assert the right to counsel, tell the police he wants to speak to an attorney, and then find a lawyer. An experienced criminal defense attorney will help the person deal with the police, the charges, and any trial.

As long as the police have good reason called " probable cause " to believe that a crime has been committed and that the person they want to arrest committed the crime, they can normally make an arrest without asking a judge for a warrant. Read an overview of arrest-warrant law for more detail. The information provided on this site is not legal advice, does not constitute a lawyer referral service, and no attorney-client or confidential relationship is or will be formed by use of the site.

The attorney listings on this site are paid attorney advertising. In some states, the information on this website may be considered a lawyer referral service. Please reference the Terms of Use and the Supplemental Terms for specific information related to your state. Grow Your Legal Practice. Meet the Editors. Learn about your rights during police interrogations and arrests. Questions If I'm arrested, do the police have to "read me my rights"?

Will a judge dismiss my case if I was questioned without a Miranda warning? What's the best way to assert my right to remain silent if I am being questioned by the police? How heavy-handed can the police get when asking questions? Can a person who is charged with a crime be forced to give bodily samples? I was pulled over at a roadblock and asked to wait and answer a police officer's questions.

Is this legal? When do the police need a warrant to make an arrest? Should an arrestee ever give a statement to the police? If I'm arrested, do the police have to "read me my rights"? Arizona , your rights consist of the familiar litany invoked by TV police immediately upon arresting a suspect: You have the right to remain silent.

If you do say anything, what you say can be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to consult with a lawyer and have that lawyer present during any questioning. If you cannot afford a lawyer, one will be appointed for you if you so desire. If you choose to talk to the police officer, you have the right to stop the interview at any time. This part of the warning is usually omitted from the screenplay. After an officer gives you a Miranda warning, you can stop the questioning by saying something like: "I don't want to talk to you; I want to talk to an attorney.

Arrest is "Custody" A person under arrest is in the custody of police. Fifth Amendment rights The Miranda warning includes a reminder that a suspect has a right to remain silent. Silence in pre-custody interview may be used Under certain circumstances, a defendant's silence during police questioning may be used against him at trial. Are there exceptions to when the officer needs to read Miranda Rights? Will my case be dismissed? I was read my Miranda Rights, but the arresting officer did not read it correctly.

Does this help my case? The police officer did not finish reading me my Miranda rights. How will this impact my case? What is the Miranda Warning? Can this help my case? I could not hear the Miranda Rights being read due to background noise distractions.

What does this mean for my case? Specific Cases About Miranda v. Arizona Miranda Changes in Case of Berghuis v. Thompkins Supreme Court Case of Salinas v. McCarty Impact of Rhode Island v.