when someone is arrested, do they call their lawyer

by Prof. Nash Welch PhD 9 min read

In most states, you are entitled to a call call to your family, a bail bondsman, and an lawyer. If you can not afford an lawyer, a public defender will be provided for you. You should memorize the numbers of a few people to call in case you are arrested.

Every person who is arrested and questioned by police must be informed of their legal rights to remain silent and be assisted by an attorney (known as "Miranda rights" after the Supreme Court decision of the same name).

Full Answer

What happens after someone is arrested?

Feb 28, 2022 · In most states, you are entitled to a call call to your family, a bail bondsman, and an lawyer. If you can not afford an lawyer, a public defender will be provided for you. You should memorize the numbers of a few people to call in case you are arrested. Police will probably not let you use your cell call to make calls.

Do I need a lawyer if I’ve been arrested?

Jan 22, 2019 · What happens after someone is arrested will be determined at the court proceedings. Hiring a trusted criminal defense lawyer can help improve the odds that your loved one builds the best possible case. An experienced criminal defense lawyer understands the laws, your rights, and can fight on your behalf.

What should you do if you are arrested for a crime?

Sep 23, 2019 · I’ve Been Arrested, Do I Need a Lawyer? Yes. A qualified criminal defense lawyer in your area can inform you of your rights and defenses and represent you in court. The above do’s and don’ts are suggestions that can help ensure your rights are protected. An experienced criminal lawyer can help protect your legal rights as well.

When is an arrest a legal arrest?

Answer (1 of 8): I'm not a lawyer, but I've had more experience being locked up than I would like. 1) One piece of practical advice which I can provide having been locked up that the lawyers don't is that remember that the people that you are locked up with are people that are in jail. So ...

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What to do if you are arrested?

There are many things you can and should do once you have been arrested. These will help ensure that your legal rights are not violated. Some of the things you should do if arrested include: 1 Remain silent. You do not have to answer any questions the police ask you in connection with the arrest. Anything you say can potentially be used against you in court. 2 Be polite and behave respectfully towards the police officer (s). 3 Remain calm. 4 Contact your attorney or ask for one if you don’t have one yet. Don’t say anything until the attorney is present. 5 Try to remember the badge numbers of any officers you interact with, as well as their patrol car number (s). 6 Make sure that your attorney is present for any questioning or discussions. 7 Be sure that your attorney is present for any lineups or testing procedures (such as drawing a blood sample. 8 Let your attorney deal with the police and prosecutors, especially if they offer you some kind of deal or plea bargain. 9 If you have been injured, take photographs of the injuries as soon as possible and seek medical attention. 10 Try to find and identify witnesses and get their contact information (name, phone number).

What should I do if I'm arrested by the police?

For example, you should generally remain calm and silent and get an attorney who can advise you of your rights and help you with complicated criminal laws and the legal system. There are also many things you shouldn’t do if you’ve been arrested.

How to be a good police officer?

Anything you say can potentially be used against you in court. Be polite and behave respectfully towards the police officer (s). Remain calm. Contact your attorney or ask for one if you don’t have one yet. Don’t say anything until the attorney is present.

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Jose (Jay) is a Senior Staff writer and team Editor for LegalMatch. He has been with LegalMatch since March of 2010. He contributes to the law library section of the company website by writing on a wide range of legal topics.

What to do if you feel your rights have been violated?

If you feel that your rights have been violated in the process of an arrest, you may need to speak with an attorney. An attorney can help review what happened and can help determine whether your rights have been violated. In some cases, suing the police may be appropriate if your rights have been infringed upon.

Can police search your house without a warrant?

If the police arrest you outside of your home or place of residence, do not allow any officer to go into your home to get clothes, talk to your wife, etc. If you accept such a request, then the police may escort you into your home and begin to search it without a warrant. The same applies to your car.

What can a criminal defense lawyer do?

A qualified criminal defense lawyer in your area can inform you of your rights and defenses and represent you in court. The above do’s and don’ts are suggestions that can help ensure your rights are protected. An experienced criminal lawyer can help protect your legal rights as well.

When is a person arrested?

A person is arrested when a police officer takes that person into custody. An officer takes someone into custody whenever the person is not free to leave. Although many people who are arrested are taken to jail, the arrest often begins much earlier. For example, if a person is stopped on suspicion of robbery and questioned ...

What to do if you are arrested?

The single most important thing to remember if you are arrested is that you have the right to remain silent and the right to an attorney, but these rights protect you only if you use them! If you are arrested, the best thing that you can do for yourself is to keep quiet until you are represented by a lawyer.

How to remain silent after arrest?

People often say, "I don't want to talk" and then they start talking, say something incriminating, and it gets used against them in court. You can tell police your name and basic information, such as your address and birth date, but do not tell them anything else. After your arrest, do not talk to police officers, do not talk to family or friends about your case, and do not talk to other inmates.

What is probable cause in criminal justice?

the officer has probable cause (reason to believe) that the person has committed a felony (any crime punishable by state prison), or. a judge or magistrate has issued an arrest warrant, supported by probable cause. For more information, see Arrests and Probable Cause.

Can you resist arrest?

In the overwhelming majority of situations, one does not have the right to resist arrest. The arrestee may not have that right even if the arrest is illegal. (See Resisting Unlawful Arrest .) A person who uses force can be charged with resisting arrest or battery on an officer, or worse.

What happens after you are arrested?

If you are arrested, you will be searched – either at the scene or at jail, or both – and any contraband or evidence will be seized. You will be photographed and fingerprinted and there will be a record of the arrest.

Can you call a bail bondsman?

In most states, you are entitled to a phone call to your family, a bail bondsman, and an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, a public defender will be provided for you. You should memorize the numbers of a few people to call in case you are arrested. Police will probably not let you use your cell phone to make calls.

Mark Alan Mackin

How much is enough - daily? Some people do not do time well. They call their attorneys several times a day, and complain about not having contact even though contact was sufficient to handle the matter. We are not social workers. And you are not the attorney's client.

Martin W. Judnich

This is the most common complaint about any attorney, criminal defense or otherwise. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to touch base with your attorney at the same time they are available. To answer your question, there is no constitutional right that grants a certain amount of time to have access to your attorney.

Frank Mascagni III

I do not practice in MT, but in my state, KY, an inmate can call his attorney by telephone. It is usually a collect phone call that my secretary accepts on my behalf. This is useful to keep in touch without making a jail visit.

What happens if you are arrested?

If you are arrested, you will be handcuffed, and except in unusual circumstances, you will first be taken to the Precinct#N#Precinct#N#A district of a city or town defined for police purposes. May also refer to a police station.#N#in which the arrest occurred for initial processing. At the precinct, a police officer will interview you and ask for “pedigree” information, including your name, address, date of birth, Social Security#N#Social Security#N#A federal program that provides income, health insurance, and other benefits.#N#number, etc. Once you have been fingerprinted you will be taken to Central Booking#N#Central Booking#N#A facility that offers temporary stay to offenders prior to their arraignment#N#and processed for arraignment, which is an appearance before a judge.

What happens if you don't have your own lawyer?

If you do not have your own lawyer the court will assign an attorney to represent you.

How long does it take to be arraigned in New York?

Thanks to successful litigation by The Legal Aid Society, people arrested in New York must be arraigned within 24 hours unless the police can provide a reasonable explanation for the delay. And because of our continuing and persistent vigilance, you can anticipate being arraigned within 18 to 24 hours.

What do police officers take in custody?

At the precinct, a police officer will search you and take personal property, such as house keys, backpacks, purses, medication, large sums of money, or valuable jewelry, as well as any unlawful items you happen to have in your possession ( Contraband#N#Contraband#N#Any property that it is illegal to produce or possess.#N#). Items other than contraband are held for safekeeping while you are in custody. You will be given a “Voucher” form listing your property, so that you can retrieve it later. However, if an officer is processing a large number of arrests at one time, your Voucher form is not ready before you are taken to a cell or another location. If this happens, ask the officer for the “Voucher number” that will be used for your property, and also write down the officer’s name and shield number. Having this information will make it easier for you to retrieve your property once you are released.

Can you go to jail if you have a warrant?

If there is a warrant, you may have to spend additional time in jail before arraignment while the court locates the paperwork. If the warrant is from a county other than the one in which you are arrested, you may have to remain in jail after the arraignment and be transferred to that county. It is possible, but highly unlikely, ...

What is an order of protection?

An order of protection is issued by the court to limit the behavior of someone who harms or threatens to harm another person. If one was issued, make absolutely no contact with the person named in the order.

Do you need to take medication for diabetes?

Some people need to take prescription medications for serious medical conditions, such as diabetes, asthma, HIV, epilepsy or hypertension. If you are on a regular medication schedule, you may need to take your medication at certain times of the day. Other people, such as those with conditions such as asthma or angina, ...

What does it mean when a suspect is arrested?

An encounter typically meets the legal definition of “arrest” when the police place the suspect in custody for some period of time, however short. In many cases, the arresting officer then transports the suspect to the police station. In most states, though, officers do have the option of arresting, citing, and releasing someone they’ve arrested for a misdemeanor. In that situation, the suspect is free to leave but is under an order to appear in court at a later date.

What happens when a police officer is arrested without a warrant?

Most police arrests occur without warrants, meaning that the prosecution first gets involved after the arrest. In this typical situation, the prosecutor reviews the police report and any other available information in deciding whether to file criminal charges through what’s normally called a “complaint.”.

How does a criminal case go from here?

Where a criminal case goes from here depends on the seriousness of the charge, the facts of the case , and the rules of the jurisdiction. One way or another, though, the court procedure must allow for a magistrate’s determination as to whether there’s probable cause to believe that the defendant committed the charged crime . (Without such a determination, the case normally cannot continue.) Also, the defendant will have to enter a plea at some point, the first plea entered often being “not guilty.”

What does a magistrate do?

At the first court appearance, the magistrate (the official acting as judge) often has to do a number of things, including: 1 informing the defendant of the charges 2 notifying the defendant of the right to counsel and beginning the process of appointing a criminal defense lawyer (if the defendant wants but cannot afford one), and 3 addressing the defendant’s custody status. Depending on the rules, a magistrate might leave the bail amount as it currently sits, increase it, decrease it, or release the defendant without bail. ( Getting out of jail without bail is normally called released on one’s “own recognizance.”) The magistrate may also impose bail conditions.

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What Is An Arrest?

  • A person is arrested when a police officer takes that person into custody. An officer takes someone into custody whenever the person is not free to leave. Although many people who are arrested are taken to jail, the arrest often begins much earlier. For example, if a person is stopped on suspicion of robbery and questioned and is not free to terminate the questioning, then the per…
See more on criminaldefenselawyer.com

Do Not Use Force

  • In the overwhelming majority of situations, one does not have the right to resist arrest. The arrestee may not have that right even if the arrest is illegal. (See Resisting Unlawful Arrest.) A person who uses force can be charged with resisting arrest or battery on an officer, or worse. And that person can end up with serious injuries. If you are arrested without probable cause, fight in …
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After The Arrest

  • If you are arrested, you will be searched – either at the scene or at jail, or both – and any contraband or evidence will be seized. You will be photographed and fingerprinted and there will be a record of the arrest. Many newspapers publish arrest records and these days, many arrest records are easily available online. For information on how to clear your record, see Expunging o…
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Invoke Your Rights

  • You have the right to remain silent and the right to an attorney. Invoke your rights! Say, "I wish to remain silent and I would like to talk to a lawyer." Once you have invoked your rights, be quiet. People often say, "I don't want to talk" and then they start talking, say something incriminating, and it gets used against them in court. You can tell police your name and basic information, such as …
See more on criminaldefenselawyer.com

Call For Help

  • In most states, you are entitled to a phone call to your family, a bail bondsman, and an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, a public defender will be provided for you. You should memorize the numbers of a few people to call in case you are arrested. Police will probably not let you use your cell phone to make calls. Again, assume that any calls you make from a police station or jai…
See more on criminaldefenselawyer.com

Obtaining Legal Assistance

  • Being arrested can be unpleasant and stressful. Oftentimes, people just want to get out of jail and think that if they just explain the situation or cooperate, the police will let them go. Police officers may even say something to that effect. Do not try to talk your way out of jail, or make any decisions about your case, without first talking to a lawyer. Do not participate in a lineup, or do a…
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