what to do if a detainee requests for a lawyer

by Rusty Cartwright 7 min read

As soon as you are arrested, you need to start requesting the ability to contact an attorney. If you have to call from jail, you should be given the opportunity to do so. If you are out on your own recognizance or you have posted bail, set up meetings and contact possible attorneys as soon as possible.

Full Answer

How to prepare an unlawful detainer complaint?

Preparation of the Unlawful Detainer complaint should not be left to an amateur. The Complaint is the second most important element after the Notice for winning the case. The complaint must state the proper cause of action, must state the facts accurately, and must be verified under the penalty of perjury.

What should I do if I get arrested in front of Judge?

If they arrest you, be patient and the first time you go in front of a judge refuse to do anything but ask for a lawyer and fill out any financial paperwork. Do not plead or attempt to defend yourself. Do not talk about any facts regarding the crime. Be polite. Yes.

When should I hire an unlawful detainer attorney?

If the Answer is filed by one of the indigent defendant defense firms and you are representing yourself in pro per, immediately hire an experience Unlawful Detainer attorney who can direct the case to a successful conclusion.

What should I do if I am asked to leave court?

Get up, walk out, don’t look back, don’t respond to anything you’re asked or anything that’s said to you. If you are not free to leave, politely say that you want to speak with a lawyer and have the lawyer present during any questioning. (And no

When a suspect has been taken into custody and has requested an attorney all questioning must cease until?

U.S. (512 U.S. 453 (1994).) The Court noted that if a suspect invokes the right to counsel at any time, the police must at once stop the questioning until a lawyer is present.

What does it mean when a lawyer is detained?

When someone is detained, it doesn't appear on their criminal record, whereas when they are arrested, it may appear on their police record. Detention is a temporary measure, and a person is detained for a limited period before releasing them or arresting them based on the evidence collected.

Under what circumstance might the Miranda rule be ignored legally?

A police officer is not obligated to give the Miranda warnings in these situations: When questioning is necessary for public safety. When asking standard booking questions. When the police have a jailhouse informant talking to the person.

What exception to the Miranda warning would you take away from police officers?

What is the Public Safety/Emergency Exception? Statements made during a custodial interrogation without Miranda warnings can be used against a defendant if the questioning was necessary to secure officers' safety or the safety of the public.

Can a detained person claim that the detention was unlawful?

If the warrant isn't available, you can bring a civil case against the police. You may receive compensation if the arrest or subsequent detention proves to be unlawful.

What are the legal grounds for detaining a person?

The commission of a crime, or violent insanity or any other ailment requiring the compulsory confinement of the patient in a hospital, shall be considered legal grounds for detention of any person. Art. 125. Delay in the delivery of detained persons to the proper judicial authorities.

What are the two requirements that must be satisfied before a waiver of Miranda rights is considered valid explain?

Correctly advised: The suspect must have been correctly advised of his Miranda rights. Understood: The suspect must have expressly said he understood his rights. No coercion: The officers must not have pressured or otherwise coerced the suspect into waiving his rights.

What are the 5 Miranda rights?

Know Your Rights: What Are Miranda Rights?Who Is Ernesto Miranda? ... You Have the Right to Remain Silent. ... Anything You Say can Be Used Against You in a Court of Law. ... You Have the Right to Have an Attorney Present. ... If You Cannot Afford an Attorney, One Will Be Appointed to You. ... Arrest Without the Reading of Miranda Rights.More items...•

Do police need to suspend questioning when the defendant's attorney first calls to talk to the defendant do the police need to inform the defendant of the attorney's call?

General Rule: Questioning Must Stop Generally, the police must immediately stop probing if the detainee invokes either the right to remain silent or the right to counsel. If the suspect invokes the latter, questioning must cease until counsel is available.

What triggers Miranda warnings?

There are two very basic prerequisites before the police are require to issue a Miranda warning to a suspect:The suspect must be in police custody; and.The suspect must be under interrogation.

At what point would an investigator move from questioning a suspect to interrogating them?

The transition point for an investigator to move from interviewing a witness or victim to detaining and questioning the person as a possible suspect should occur when real evidence is discovered giving the investigator reasonable grounds to suspect that the person is involved in the event.

What happens if you don't understand your Miranda rights?

Many people believe that if they are arrested and not "read their rights," they can escape punishment. Not true. But if the police fail to read a suspect his or her Miranda rights, the prosecutor can't use for most purposes anything the suspect says as evidence against the suspect at trial.

What do you mean by detain?

Definition of detain transitive verb. 1 : to hold or keep in or as if in custody detained by the police for questioning. 2 obsolete : to keep back (something due) : withhold. 3 : to restrain especially from proceeding was detained by a flat tire.

What is the difference between detained and convicted?

In contrast, in case of arrest, the person can be held in custody until bail is granted or the case is presented before the court....Examples.DetentionArrestPolice stopping a person, whose behavior is suspicious, in connection with bank robbery.Police arrested a person who is convicted of hit and run.1 more row•Apr 13, 2021

What is the purpose of detention?

The purpose of assigning detention is to punish misbehavior. Therefore, the goal of deten- tion is to reduce future occurrences of the behavior being punished.

What does detention only mean?

AN ARREST WITHOUT THE FILING OF AN ACCUSATORY PLEADING IS JUST A DETENTION. On August 1, 2016, the California Court of Appeal, 2nd District, held, in Schmidt v. California Highway Patrol, that if a person is arrested, but no accusatory pleading is filed with a court, the arrest shall be deemed a detention only.

Why should detainees have a lawyer?

Detainees serving a sentence should be able to access a lawyer to ensure due process and the protection of their rights in the execution of their sentence. Lawyers can assist detainees serving a sentence to understand their rights and challenge aspects of their conditions and treatment in detention, including through complaints mechanisms and proceedings before judicial and other authorities. Legal representation can be particularly important for detainees in serious disciplinary proceedings. As the United Nations Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture (SPT) has noted, proceedings arising from situations in prisons can require specialised legal expertise different from skills required for criminal defense.

What is the legal procedure for detention?

1. A detained person shall be entitled to have the assistance of a légal counsel. He shall be informed of his right by the competent authority promptly after arrest and shall be provided with reasonable facilities for exercising it.#N#2. If a detained person does not have a legal counsel of his own choice, he shall be entitled to have a legal counsel assigned to him by a judicial or other authority in all cases where the interests of justice so require and without payment by him if he does not have sufficient means to pay.

What should be the procedure for admission to a prison?

Prison admission procedures should ensure that detainees are informed about their right to access a lawyer, in a language they understand, upon arriving at the prison. If the detainee does not have a lawyer, they should be given the opportunity to contact one free of charge and/or informed of how they can have one appointed to them. Detainees who already have legal counsel should be informed of how they can contact, meet and communicate with their lawyer.

Why is it important to have a lawyer in prison?

They can see the physical condition of the detainee and advise them on exercising their rights, including challenging the detention if it is arbitrary. Ensuring access to a lawyer is therefore important for transparency, protecting rights, reducing the risk of arbitrary detention and as a deterrent for abuse in these early stages.

How long after deprivation of liberty can you contact a lawyer?

Detainees should be given the opportunity to contact and meet with a lawyer as soon as possible after deprivation of liberty. A number of expert bodies have recommended this should be ensured “from the outset” or “actual moment” of deprivation of liberty. The UN Special Rapporteur on Torture has recommended a time limit of 24 hours. In any case it should be granted within no more than 48 hours after deprivation of liberty.

What rights do deprived persons have?

] All persons deprived of liberty shall have the right to a defense and to legal counsel, named by themselves, their family, or provided by the State; they shall have the[& right to communicate privately with their counsel, without interference or censorship, without delays or unjustified time limits, from the time of their capture or arrest and necessarily before their first declaration before the competent authority.

Should juveniles have the right to legal counsel?

(a) Juveniles should have the right of legal counsel and be enabled to apply for free legal aid, where such aid is available, and to communicate regularly with their legal advisers. Privacy and confidentiality shall be ensured for such communications.

Unlawful Detainee vs. Eviction

The biggest difference between eviction and an unlawful detainee is the timing at which they occur. An unlawful detainer lawsuit refers to the step that is taken before an eviction. The manager of the property has to send a written notice of termination of the lease.

What Takes Place When A Person Gets An Unlawful Detainer?

When you compare unlawful detainee to the other court matters, it is usually but not always shorter. After the property manager files a complaint, the remaining processes can take between three to five weeks.

Conclusion

Are you renting a place where you have breached the rental agreement in one way or another or you can barely afford it? It is wise to get another residential place to live early enough.

How many ways do police get convictions?

The Police have a difficult job and you can forget what you see on television. There are three main ways they get a conviction.

What happens if a judge finds you indigent?

If the judge found you to be indigent, he would appoint counsel for you. The judge, not the defendant, decides whether the defendant can afford to hire a lawyer. I've seen several cases where a defendant had resources, but didn't want to expend them on legal counsel.

What happens if you invoke the 6th amendment?

If someone were to invoke their Sixth Amendment right to counsel, but then continue to answer questions from the police willingly, they would run the risk of the court finding a waiver of their Fifth Amendment rights. There are two separate rights that you want to invoke when asking for a lawyer.

Why don't attorneys burst in?

Another reason attorneys don’t burst in is that the very moment a potential criminal asks for an attorney then questioning stops immediately. There is no reason for an attorney to burst up in there when their client is sitting there often alone. If they invoke their right to silence or ask for an attorney’s counsel then any questioning conducted from then on is garbage and an officer will be flushing the case down the toilet to continue.

What happens if you refuse to sign an affidavit?

In many states in the US, you will be required to sign a statement affirming that you have been advised as to your rights. If you refuse, you will be advised again, either in front of witnesses, who will then sign an affidavit saying they witnessed it, or it will be on videotape.

What happens if an attorney has not yet had time to confer with their client?

If the attorney has not yet had time to confer with their client and learn the truth, how things went down, etc to work on strategy then silence is golden. Sometimes after speaking with the client they decide that certain statements are necessary.

What does it mean when someone says anything you say can be used against you?

Also, anything you say that would tend to be exculpatory or lend to your innocence will neither be recorded or introduced in court on your behalf. So give them only the basic information needed to book you and is required for a bond and remain quiet.

What to do when you are questioned by police?

The first thing you should do when questioned by the police is ask if you are free to leave and insist on an answer. If you are free to leave - do so immediately, even if the officers tell you that you’re acting against your best interest (that’s their opinion and it’s their interests they’re concerned about). If you leave, questioning is over, period. Get up, walk out, don’t look back, don’t respond to anything you’re asked or anything that’s said to you.

What to say to police when they say no?

That said its my experience that there are only two things that you should ever say to the police. The first is “Am I being detained?” if they say No, then turn around and walk away. If they say yes, then you tell them that you need to see your lawyer. Thats the end of it. The police love to get you to talk so that they can use the circumstances in what your saying to build up the case against you. Make no mistake t

What happens if you ask for counsel?

If you ask for the assistance of counsel, questioning will stop. If the police have sufficient probable cause to hold you, you will be booked into jail or returned to jail if you’ve already been booked. If the police do not have sufficient probable cause, you will be released.

How long can a police officer hold you without charge?

Continue Reading. There’s no set time. Police procedurals like Law and Order have popularized the idea the police can hold you for 24 hours without charge, but that’s not a blanket rule. When you are being interrogated as a suspect in a crime but not under arrest, you are subject to investigative detention.

What to do if you are not free to leave?

If you are not free to leave, politely say that you want to speak with a lawyer and have the lawyer present during any questioning. (And no decent lawyer is going to allow questioning to occur.) The questioning should stop immediately - but there may be continued cautions that, in the opinion of the officers, you’re not acting in your best interests. Do not pay any attention to those cautions, let your lawyer make that call. Keep repeating the above request for a lawyer like a mantra. Yes, it may mean that you have to wait for a lawyer, but if you are not free to leave, you have some serious concerns anyway - don’t make them worse.

What amendment gives you the right to an attorney?

Under the Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution, you have a right to have an attorney present for any and all questioning. And, if you cannot afford an attorney, one must be appointed for you by the Public/Indigent Defender's Office.

Can police return to question you after a reasonable period of time?

Simply refusing to answer questions, is not a clear invocation of your Miranda rights and police can return and attempt to question you again after a reasonable period of time.

What to do if you are pulled over by police?

If the police pull you over because they believe you are driving under the influence (DUI), you may feel like you need to ask to talk to your attorney. In the U.S., though, most states do not have a law that says you may talk to a lawyer just because you have been pulled over to be questioned by the police. Technically, you are not in police ...

What happens if you are arrested for driving under the influence?

If the officer does have reasonable suspicion that you were driving under the influence, you will be arrested and transported to the police station or a hospital for a blood, breath, or urine test. Upon arrest, the police must read you your Miranda rights, reminding you that you do not have to say anything that may be used against you.

What is reasonable cause for police to pull you over?

It is important to be aware of what raises reasonable cause for the police to pull you over on suspicion of driving under the influence. They may pull you over, question you and administer tests to determine intoxication if they see you doing the following: Driving erratically; Driving excessively slowly; Speeding;

Why do police pull you over?

Police may pull you over for any reasonable suspicion of intoxicated driving. They may also pull you over for other issues with your car, such as having a taillight out. This information is important because if a police officer pulls you over without reasonable suspicion, it may get your DUI case thrown out.

What happens if you refuse a blood test?

If you refuse, the police will likely ask you to take a test to determine your level of intoxication or your Blood Alcohol Content (BAC). Police may also use other cues to assume intoxication, such as the dilation of your pupils.

Can you be arrested for refusing a breathalyzer test?

The breathalyzer test, or blood or urine test to determine level of intoxication may be voluntary, but, typically, you may still be arrested and charged with drunk driving for refusal to allow the test. In some cases, forced BAC tests may be done, especially if the driver under suspicion is injured and refuses a test.

Do you have to incriminate yourself when you are arrested?

You are not required to incriminate yourself in order to reply to questions posed by the police. If you are arrested, you will be able to meet with your attorney, who can advise you and help you respond to police questioning.

What happens if a defendant files an answer to a complaint?

If the Defendant files an Answer to the Complaint, the Answer must be reviewed to determine what the affirmative defenses are. If the Answer is filed by one of the indigent defendant defense firms and you are representing yourself in pro per, immediately hire an experience Unlawful Detainer attorney who can direct the case to a successful conclusion.

How to litigate an eviction case?

Hire an experienced eviction law firm. Do not try to litigate an eviction case on your own – known legally as “in pro per ” which is a person who appears before a Court without a legal representative or lawyer – as you probably will miss a critical point and lose the case. If the landlord is a corporation or a limited liability company check the Secretary of State Web site before sending your eviction case to your attorney to ensure that the Corporation and/or Limited Liability Company is active.

What is discovery in eviction?

Once an Unlawful Detainer lawsuit is filed and the tenant decides to contest the eviction the process called “discovery” is a very important tool that can assist the landlord’s attorney in preparing for trial. It’s a critical weapon in an attorney’s arsenal to ferret out the factual and documentary basis for the tenant’s claims that the landlord should not be allowed to evict the contesting tenant. This is especially important in preparing for a jury trial against BASTA or any of the other tenant defense attorneys. Read More...

What is the second most important element after the Notice for winning the case?

Preparation of the Unlawful Detainer complaint should not be left to an amateur. The Complaint is the second most important element after the Notice for winning the case. The complaint must state the proper cause of action, must state the facts accurately, and must be verified under the penalty of perjury. Even a little error in the preparation of ...

How often should a landlord review a notice to quit?

If the landlord is preparing the Notice to Quit it must be reviewed at least twice before it is served on the tenant to make sure it complies with current California Law. That is why the Notice should be prepared by an experienced eviction law firm or by a very experienced property manager/property management company.

How long do you have to give notice to inspect a rental property?

If the Defendant has raised defenses concerning habitability or any defective conditions of the rental property make sure you immediately serve a 24 hour notice of right to enter and inspect. Take your cell phone and make sure you take photographs and/or a video from the moment you get to the front door at the appointed time to the time your leave.

What is required to file a tenant application?

The tenant file should have: (a) A fully completed rental application that includes basic tenant information and name, address and telephone number of references; (b) Written rental agreement; (c) Move-In Inspection Report; (d) Copies of all correspondence to and from the tenant; (e) Rent receipts/rental ledger; (f) Periodic unit inspection reports; (g) Government agency inspection reports, citation (s), warning (s), responses; (h) Warning notices to tenant; (i) LARSO Registration and Payment receipts if applicable in Los Angeles; (j) Notices of Change of Terms of Tenancy; (k) All Notices to Vacate; (k) Rental agreement and (l) Pictures of the rental property;

How to file a complaint against a lawyer?

In most states, you can file your complaint by mailing in a state-issued complaint form or a letter with the lawyer's name and contact information, your contact information, a description of the problem, and copies of relevant documents. In some states, you may be able to lodge your complaint over the phone or online.

What happens if a client fires a lawyer?

When a client fires a lawyer and asks for the file, the lawyer must promptly return it. In some states, such as California, the lawyer must return the file even if attorneys’ fees haven’t been paid in full. Lawyer incompetence. Lawyers must have the knowledge and experience to competently handle any case that they take on.

What is the role of a lawyer?

Lawyers are given a lot of responsibility and often deal with serious matters, from criminal charges to child custody to tax and other financial matters. When you hire a lawyer, you are trusting him or her to represent your interests in the best manner possible. To protect the public—and the integrity of the legal profession—each state has its own code of ethics that lawyers must follow. These are usually called the “rules of professional conduct.”

Can a lawyer be disciplined?

Lawyers who don’t live up to their ethical obligations can face discipline from a state board.

Can a lawyer be disciplined for a violation of ethics?

In these situations, the lawyer can face discipline for violating legal ethics, including losing the right to practice law.

Can you file an anonymous complaint online?

In some states, you may be able to lodge your complaint over the phone or online. Some states allow anonymous complaints if the problems impact the general public, while others don’t. Either way, it can be difficult for the agency to investigate a complaint without the cooperation of the complaining party.

Can you win a malpractice lawsuit?

If you’re looking for compensation, a malpractice lawsuit is generally the way to go. However, legal malpractice lawsuits can be very difficult to win. Among other things, you must show that your lawyer made a significant mistake in your case and that you suffered a monetary loss because of it.