While we must support effective law enforcement, we must also exercise our constitutional rights to ensure law enforcement works as it should to protect all Americans regardless of race or ethnicity. In our last installment, we discussed ways to properly interact with law enforcement. In this installment, we continue the discussion.
If you are arrested by law enforcement, immediately state your refusal to speak to the police and ask for an attorney. Do not make any statements other than giving your name and address. You have the right to remain silent.
You have the right to a court-appointed attorney if you cannot afford one. If you are under 18 years old, tell the police and ask for your parents to be contacted immediately. After you are arrested, you must be given the opportunity to make a local phone call.
Know beforehand who you will call in a situation like this and contact them. The police may not listen in on this phone call. You must be taken before a judge or magistrate within a day after being arrested or within the shortest time otherwise possible.
If you are required to post bail after being arrested, you may request to have your bail lowered. Do not make any decisions until you have spoken with your attorney. Do not allow the police to trick you into saying anything. Remember, the police can lie to get you to confess to a crime.
If law enforcement approaches you, ask for a lawyer immediately upon being arrested or being placed into custody. Stay calm and keep your emotions from getting the best of you. Be courteous even if the law enforcement officer is not.
You will only give the officer more ammunition against you if you begin yelling, arguing or refusing reasonable directives. Carry identification at all times and be prepared to produce it. Keep your hands where the police officer can see them.
If you are injured, take photographs and seek medical attention as soon as possible. Remember the officer's name and badge number as well as any witness information. Write down everything you remember about the encounter as soon as possible and document all property damage.
Do not run. Do not touch the police officer. Do not make any statements about the incident before speaking to an attorney. Remember that anything you say will probably be held against you.
We have based this article on ?The 411 on the Five-O: The NAACP Real World Guide to Interacting with Law Enforcement.?
Note: Rev. Mary A. Pulley, the president of the Rolla Area Branch of the NAACP, has approved this article. The purpose of the NAACP Point of View series is to communicate the positions of the Rolla Area Branch of the NAACP concerning subjects of interest. For more information, or to join the NAACP, please contact the Rolla Area Branch by e-mail (unit4093@naacp.org), regular mail, (PO Box 1534, Rolla Missouri 65402-1534), or telephone (573-426-3323).
