Knowing your rights when you get arrested is important, regardless if you’re innocent or otherwise. Understand all facts so that you can protect yourself from further incrimination. Here are things you should be aware of that could save you from serving a hefty jail sentence.
Right to Consult a Lawyer
If you are detained by law enforcement, it is your absolute right to talk to legal council without any further delays. You can ask for a phone and phone book to contact a lawyer. Upon contacting your legal representative, authorities must provide you with privacy. Most lawyers can be contacted to offer immediate phone consultation for free. Criminal lawyers, on the other hand, may charge a nominal fee for initial consultation.
It is best to consult a lawyer immediately after being detained by law enforcement. A lawyer can advise you on how to best respond to formal demands required by law enforcement, such as hair or saliva samples, and whether or not it is in your best interest to answer certain questions from the police. In some situations, it is not always beneficial to your case to remain silent, and a lawyer can advise you how to respond accordingly.
How Much Legal Power Authorities Have
If you are detained, authorities can perform certain procedures. Knowing to what extent these officials can perform their duties is important to preserve your civilian rights. For instance, police are permitted to search your body and clothing. However, they cannot ask for samples of your blood or saliva immediately on site. Police may also search your possessions even without a warrant.
Authorities may also ask you to perform tests like walking a straight line if they pull you over and suspect you of driving under the influence of substance/s. Other things they have the legal power to perform include fingerprinting you, putting you in a lineup with other suspects so that the victim can identify the actual perpetrator, and requesting you to provide a sample of your handwriting.
Being Read Your Miranda Rights
Make sure your rights are not violated while in law enforcement custody. Authorities are required to state what is called as your Miranda Rights prior any questioning that follows your detention. Your Miranda Rights educates you of what your rights are during questioning, particularly your right to remain silent. If you do opt to relay information with authorities after they’ve served you your Miranda Rights, the information you provide can and will be used against you in the court of law.
Requesting Bond
When you get arrested, your case is assigned to a court judge. During your initial hearing following detention, you or your legal representative can request for bail to best by your judge, who is in charge of setting terms of your bail including, but not limited to, the cash value that must be posted as bail. The bail amount set is usually a number that the judge feels will ensure that you show up for your next court trials.
Kyle Carter is a blogger and professional bail bondsman with C&K OKC Bail Bonds in Oklahoma City. Kyle is passionate about sharing information online through his blogs, on youtube, and provides local bail bond services in OKC to the local Oklahoma City community.