What are your rights when arrested? That’s a question on anyone’s mind who may have had an interaction with police lately.
If you’re ever in a situation in which you’re put under arrest, you need to know your rights. Your Miranda rights represent a series of statements that police need to inform you of when you’re in their custody.
These rights are for your own protection and to avoid self-incrimination on an individual level. They also help ensure that you understand your right to an attorney. So let’s talk about the answer to “If arrested, what are your rights?”
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If You Are Arrested, What Are Your Rights?
Let’s go through the basic rights you have if you’re placed under arrest:
Right To An Attorney
You always have the right to an attorney, even if you cannot afford one. If that’s the case, then one will be appointed for you.
In addition, you can have an attorney present as your right from the moment that police begin questioning you.
So when it comes to the matter of “What are my rights when arrested?” This is perhaps the most crucial.
Right To Remain Silent
One of the first things you should say if you are detained or placed under arrest is, “I want to speak with an attorney,” or something similar. That’s because you always have the right to remain silent — and you should use it.
For instance, you can also say, “I’m not going to be answering any questions. I want my attorney.” The point of the matter is that you don’t have to utter a single word until you have an attorney present.
The Miranda Warning
In addition to your right to remain silent and your right to have an attorney, you also have the right to be informed of that.
To put it another way, the Miranda Warning is the “right” to know your rights in the first place. Specifically, the officer must inform you that if you speak, anything you say can be used against you in a court of law — and that you have the right to an attorney and to remain silent.
If the police do not inform you of your rights, then your case could be thrown out, and those police officers could be investigated for misconduct.
Police unfortunately have a lot of tricks to try to get you to incriminate yourself. In fact, even if you think you did nothing wrong, your words can still be used against you.
The police could use them to paint a picture of a guilty person, even though you’re innocent. This is also one of the reasons hiring a criminal defense attorney in Minneapolis is so vital.
To Recap
So to summarize the answer to “What are your rights when being arrested?” — You have the right to an attorney, to remain silent, and to be read your rights in the first place.
Ensure Your Rights Are Protected Today
Reach out to the offices of the best criminal defense attorney in Minneapolis, Lynn Torgerson, and you’ll never have to ask, “What are my rights if arrested?” again.
Lynn has over 29 years of experience protecting individuals just like you from self-incrimination in a variety of legal contexts. If you or someone you love has been put under arrest, it is paramount that you protect your rights.
So call today and schedule a free consultation. Don’t take the risk of representing yourself. You deserve an expert on your side.