What to do if you are arrested
- Do not panic.
- Stay calm and polite. Do not argue, fight, or resist the cop.
- Politely refuse to answer any questions. You have the right to remain silent. Exercise your rights. Your job is to protect yourself, not to help the police. Politely tell the police that you are invoking your Constitutional 5th Amendment Right to Remain Silent.
- Politely ask what you are being arrested for where they are taking you.
- If you are given the opportunity then call a friend of family member to let them know you are being arrested. You might not get this opportunity until you are already at the jail. The police do not have to let you call someone at the actual time they arrest you.
- Continue to remain silent. Do not try to "talk your way out of it." The cop has probably heard every story imaginable. Remember that everything you say WILL BE USED AGAINST YOU.
- Continue to remain silent even when you are by yourself. Chances are the cop has a video and audio recording system in his vehicle. Do not talk to yourself or curse the arresting officer when you are in the back seat of the cop car.
- Continue to remain silent when you get to the jail or police station. If an investigator tries to interrogate you, politely inform him that you are exercising your Constitutional 5th Amendment right to remain silent and ask to speak with a lawyer.
- Hire a lawyer. The best way to improve your chances of beating the case is to hire a lawyer as quickly as possible after arrest.