8 Prepare for the Unexpected: What to Do If You’ve Been Arrested No one ever plans on being arrested, but you may find yourself in this situation. If you’ve been arrested and charged with a crime, you will feel confused, lost and scared, but it’s important to know your rights and be prepared for the journey ahead. The Defenders of the Richard Harris Law Firm are seasoned criminal defense attorneys who understand that each alleged crime has a unique set of circumstances. Law enforcement builds their case as soon as they notice suspicious activity or get dispatched to investigate a call. How you react to the police and what you say may affect how the case against you turns out. If you’re arrested by the police, there are things you should do and not do to ensure your Constitutional rights are protected. Here are four tips from The Defenders: Stay Calm and Know Your Rights Being interrogated by the police is intimidating, but it’s important you remain cool, calm and collected. Once you’re in custody, the best thing you can do for yourself is stay silent until you have legal representation. Do Not Give Consent Sometimes, the police may request to search your car or home. Most often, when an officer asks for permission to search your belongings, it means they have no warrant to do so. Always politely decline their request. If law enforcement discovers evidence without a properly executed warrant and without your consent, the search may be unlawful and the evidence excluded from the case. Don’t Resist Arrest Whatever the circumstances, if you are put under arrest, the best thing you can do is not put up a fight against the detaining officer. Not only could resisting arrest result in additional charges against you, but it’s also a safety issue. Following an arrest, continue to exercise your right to remain silent. Call The Defenders A surefire way to guarantee your rights are protected following an arrest is to speak with a trained criminal defense lawyer committed to investigate every facet of your case to build the best defense possible.