If you have been arrested by the police, it is important to understand your rights. Some of these will be read to you during the arrest, and they are known as your Miranda rights.
If these rights are violated, it can have a major impact on both the outcome of your case and your legal options. Below are two examples to keep in mind.
The right to remain silent
First and foremost, even if the police ask you questions, you are not legally obligated to answer. You can simply exercise your right to remain silent. You do not have to say anything that may incriminate you, and even seemingly innocent statements can be used against you in court.
Rather than just ignoring the officers, it may be best to tell them verbally that you want to exercise your right to remain silent and that you do not intend to answer their questions.
The right to an attorney
Next, you have the right to legal counsel throughout every step of the process. You can either hire a lawyer or, if you are unable to afford the services of an attorney on your own, the court must appoint one for you.
Often, your right to an attorney is closely tied to your right to remain silent. You may want to tell the officers that you do not plan to answer their questions until your attorney is present and that you will make any statements at that time. Your attorney can then help you decide what to say and avoid any mistakes that could negatively impact your case.
For these reasons and more, if you have been arrested, you must understand all of your legal defense options.
