Latest / Wrongful Conviction / #208 Wrongful Conviction Podcasts PSA - What to Do When Stopped by the Police (Cooperating)
Transcript
- 0:00Speaker 1: Hi, I'm Jason Flamm and I'm the host of Wrongful
- 0:02Speaker 1: Conviction with Jason.
- 0:03Speaker 2: Flamm, and I'm Robbia Jaudry, attorney and co host of Undisclosed.
- 0:07Speaker 1: We want to talk to you today about your rights
- 0:09Speaker 1: and how they relate to interactions with the police. So, Robbia,
- 0:14Speaker 1: let's say someone's unlucky enough to have witnessed a crime
- 0:16Speaker 1: or become a person of interest in a police investigation,
- 0:19Speaker 1: someone the police want to speak with in connection with
- 0:22Speaker 1: a crime. Now, you've done nothing wrong, and even though
- 0:25Speaker 1: logic would tell us that an innocent person doesn't need
- 0:27Speaker 1: to protect themselves, we both know that time and time again,
- 0:31Speaker 1: that's often when you need the protection the most. So
- 0:34Speaker 1: what are some ways that I, or you, or anyone
- 0:37Speaker 1: could protect themselves in this situation.
- 0:39Speaker 2: Well, the first thing you got to figure out is
- 0:41Speaker 2: whether or not you're being detained. So ask ask am
- 0:44Speaker 2: I being detained? If you're not being detained, ask if
- 0:46Speaker 2: you're free to go? Now. The police can detain somebody
- 0:49Speaker 2: for a very brief period if they have quote reasonable
- 0:52Speaker 2: suspicion of involvement in a crime, But to make an
- 0:55Speaker 2: arrest they have to have probable cause. It's a higher standard.
- 0:58Speaker 2: If they're questioning you publicly, it's generally considered a detention,
- 1:01Speaker 2: and if it's out of you the public, it can
- 1:03Speaker 2: be construed as an arrest. Now, if you're told that
- 1:06Speaker 2: you are not free to go, you are being detained
- 1:08Speaker 2: or arrested, then you should reassert your right to stay
- 1:11Speaker 2: silent and refuse to consent to a search. If you
- 1:14Speaker 2: have been arrested, always, always, always, ask for an attorney,
- 1:17Speaker 2: ask no questions, and sign nothing. Remember, if no one talks,
- 1:21Speaker 2: everyone walks. Just don't be talked into cooperating with the police.
- 1:25Speaker 2: I promise you. It can never help you. It can
- 1:27Speaker 2: only hurt despite what they may say to you.
- 1:30Speaker 1: And let's not forget they're allowed to lie to you.
- 1:33Speaker 1: They're legally allowed to lie to you in the interrogation room.
- 1:35Speaker 1: So do not say a word because anything you say
- 1:38Speaker 1: ken it will be held against you. That's not hyperbole.
- 1:41Speaker 1: You will get yourself in a jam that even we
- 1:44Speaker 1: can't get you out of. And we see it, time
- 1:47Speaker 1: it again.
- 1:47Speaker 2: And if you've been read your miranda right, don't, under
- 1:50Speaker 2: any circumstance waive them. Reaffirm your demand for an attorney
- 1:53Speaker 2: and your right to remain silent.
- 1:55Speaker 1: To learn more and get involved. Listen to Undisclosed. I
- 1:59Speaker 1: listen to it and I hope you do too.
- 2:01Speaker 2: And listen to the Wrongful Conviction podcast.
- 2:03Speaker 1: These are your legal rights.
- 2:06Speaker 2: Know your rights, understand your rights, and exercise your rights.