Speaking with a police officer or similar member of law enforcement can sometimes be an intimidating experience. In fact, you may find that you feel like you’ve done something wrong even when you haven’t. This is especially true if you opt not to comply with any and all requests that police ask of you.
The fact of the matter is that many people oftentimes feel guilty when talking with police or standing up for their own rights. If you give in to these feelings, you can actually end up in a worse spot. Never feel guilty when talking with police, especially in the four common instances that we’ll talk through in today’s blog.
Don’t Feel Guilty Telling Police No
The Constitution of the United States offers citizens a number of guaranteed protections, and you should never feel guilty about leaning on the protections granted to you by this document. Despite a police officer’s best efforts, you should never feel guilty expressing those protections in these common scenarios.
1. Asking For A Lawyer – Police will inform you that you have the right to legal counsel, but they’ll hope that you put this right on the back burner until they are done questioning you. Please, make your life and our job easier by invoking this protection. Simply state that you aren’t going to answer any questions without your lawyer present. That should bring the questioning to a complete halt, and know that expressing this right is not an indication of guilt.
2. Denying A Warrantless Search – Police typically need your permission or a signed warrant in order to conduct a search of your property, so make sure they get a warrant if they want to try and collect evidence that could be used against you during a legal case. “I’ll give you full access to named areas once you have a signed warrant” is a perfectly acceptable response to a request to search your private property.
3. Staying Silent – You have a right to remain silent, and again invoking this right cannot be used to suggest to the court that you are guilty of a crime. Invoke this right. You’re much more likely to provide police with evidence that could strengthen your case than to talk your way out of a situation. Lawyers love clients who don’t make the case more difficult to win because they couldn’t keep their mouth shut.
4. Request A Trial – You have the right to a trial by a judge or a jury of your peers. If you don’t like the deal that the prosecution is offering or you feel like you want your voice heard in court, go ahead and plead not guilty and take the opportunity to make your case in court. Don’t just plead guilty and hope for a slap on the wrist if you feel like justice won’t be served by accepting a plea deal. Consult with your lawyer for more information about the best way to proceed with your case.
You have rights, and you should never feel guilty about leaning on the protections granted to you by our founding fathers. Keep these protections in mind, and we’re confident you’ll be able to successfully navigate any future encounters with law enforcement.
For more information, or for legal assistance, reach out to the team at Appelman Law Firm today at (952) 224-2277.
