CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAWYERS

 

THE TOP 10 THINGS TO KNOW

When Stopped, Arrested or Suspected by the Police

We practice blue and white collar Criminal Defense and Drunk Driving/ DUI/ DWI defense in state and federal courts throughout Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Virginia, including the counties of Montgomery, Fairfax County, Arlington, Prince George's, Alexandria, Howard, Frederick, Anne Arundel (Annapolis and Glen Burnie), Prince William, and Loudoun.

Jon Katz has been fighting for criminal defendants since 1991. Jon has advocated for over 2000 criminal defendants, and has defended over one hundred fifty criminal trials to conclusion. He has defended a wide variety of clients, including those accused of murder, sexual assault, drug offenses, child pornography, and drunk driving. For samples of our criminal trial work, click here. 

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS

When Stopped, Arrested or Suspected by the Police

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized. U.S. Constitution, Fourth Amendment.

A police detainee "must be warned prior to any questioning that he has the right to remain silent, that anything he says can be used against him in a court of law, that he has the right to the presence of an attorney, and that if he cannot afford an attorney one will be appointed for him prior to any questioning if he so desires. Opportunity to exercise these rights must be afforded to him throughout the interrogation." Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 478-479 (1966).

By Jonathan L. Katz

    The police are trained to persuade people to give up their Constitutional rights and to catch them off guard. Nobody is safe from becoming a criminal suspect, whether rightly or wrongly. Here is a non-exhaustive list of your essential rights when dealing with the police in the United States.  

1.    MUST I SPEAK WITH THE POLICE?

Nobody has an obligation to speak with the police other than when asked for one's name (see the next paragraph for dealing with requests for one's name or identification). If you are a criminal suspect, it rarely helps to speak with the police. If you are unsure whether you are a suspect, it is better not to speak with the police before obtaining the advice of a qualified criminal defense lawyer. 

2.    MUST I GIVE MY NAME OR SHOW THE POLICE MY IDENTIFICATION IF I AM NOT DRIVING A CAR?

To refuse to provide one's name to the police can be risky, absent a later Catch-22 court ruling that the police had no reasonable suspicion to stop the person. A non-driver should not be required to show identification. Hiibel v. Sixth Judicial District Court of Nevada. 

3.    MUST I SHOW THE POLICE MY IDENTIFICATION IF I AM STOPPED WHILE DRIVING?

It seems risky not to show one's driver's license and vehicle registration when lawfully stopped by the police when one is behind the wheel. California v. Byers, 402 U.S. 424, 433-34 (1971). 

4.    IF THE POLICE STOP ME, WHAT DO I DO?
You can assert your rights without being confrontational. For instance: 

POLICE OFFICER: Excuse me, would you tell me where you are going? 

CIVILIAN: No, officer. 

POLICE OFFICER: Why not? 

CIVILIAN: I choose not to speak, officer. 

POLICE OFFICER: Please pop open your trunk.

CIVILIAN: No, officer.  

See additional tips on the Busted video. A full version of the video can be viewed here and here. 

5. IF THE POLICE UNLAWFULLY DETAIN ME, MAY I USE PHYSICAL FORCE?

Even if you believe your arrest is unlawful, a judge or jury may not agree. Moreover, some jurisdictions prohibit physical force even against an unlawful police arrest.     

6. MUST I AGREE TO A SEARCH OF MY PERSON, PROPERTY, CAR OR HOUSE?
No. If you do not agree to a search, clearly say so. However, do not physically interfere with any search by the police. 

7. IF THE POLICE SHOW ME A SEARCH WARRANT, MUST I ASSIST IN FINDING THE ITEMS THEY SEEK, AND IN OPENING LOCKED OR PASSWORD-PROTECTED ITEMS?
No. Generally, you have the right passively to resist the police, by not showing any physical obstruction, on the one hand, and by not providing assistance, on the other. 

8.   MUST I REMAIN WITH THE POLICE MERELY BECAUSE THE POLICE ARE SPEAKING TO ME?
If you are unsure whether you are free to leave, ask if you are free to leave. If the police do not allow you to leave, ask the reason. 

9.    WHAT DO I DO IF SUSPECTED OF DRINKING AND DRIVING?

See practical suggestions at www.katzjustice.com/drunkdriving.htm. 

10.  WHAT DO I DO IF THE POLICE THREATEN ME WITH ARREST, ARREST ME, SEIZE MY PROPERTY, MISTREAT ME, NOT READ ME MY RIGHTS, PUT ME UNDER SURVEILLANCE, TELL ME I'M MAKING TOO BIG A DEAL OF THE SITUATION BY WANTING A LAWYER, OR ASK ME TO "HELP" OR COOPERATE WITH THEM IN EXCHANGE FOR POSSIBLE LENIENCY?

Consult with a qualified criminal defense lawyer to level the playing field in dealing with the police, and to avoid devastating landmines in advance. If you cannot afford a lawyer, you will be eligible for court-appointed or public defender counsel by the time you are formally charged with committing a crime, if you ever are charged with a crime, at the very latest. Some court-appointed counsel and public defender systems make indigent defense counsel available before a person is arrested or indicted for an alleged crime. Your rights to a lawyer and to remain silent are sacred and are enshrined in the Constitution's Bill of Rights. U.S. Constitution, Fifth and Sixth Amendments. 

NOTE: A one-page printable (and shorter) version of this list is here. 

DISCLAIMER: Nothing in this article should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. The information is intended to be general and should not be relied upon for any specific situation. For legal advice, please consult a qualified attorney. 

Originally posted on March 12, 2004. Updated April 2006.

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