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The following includes excerpts from “What To Do If You’re Stopped By The Police, Immigration Agents or the FBI” by the American Civil Liberties Union.
What are Your Rights When You are Arrested?
In the United States, anyone who is arrested has certain rights under the U.S. Constitution. These rights were outlined by the U.S. Supreme Court in the case of Miranda v. Arizona: “…the person in custody must, prior to interrogation, be clearly informed that he has the right to remain silent, and that anything he says will be used against him in court; he must be clearly informed that he has the right to consult with a lawyer and to have the lawyer with him during interrogation, and that, if he is indigent, a lawyer will be appointed to represent him.” A law officer making an arrest will read a statement based on this rule, which is usually called “reading your rights” or “Miranda rights”. If the police fail to advise you of your rights, any statements you make could be excluded if you were put on trial.
How to Behave When You are Arrested:
If a law officer places you under arrest:
Where to Get More Information:
FindLaw: What Procedures Must the Police Follow While Making an Arrest? http://criminal.findlaw.com/criminal-procedure/what-procedures-must-the-police-follow-while-making-an-arrest.html
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SOURCES: What To Do If You’re Stopped by the Police, Immigration Agents or the FBI, American Civil Liberties Union; MIRANDA V. ARIZONA 384 U.S. 436, U.S. Supreme Court
PREPARED BY: 211/ch
CONTENT LAST REVIEWED: April2024