Being arrested in the United States is an unfortunate situation, but it doesn’t have to be a jail sentence. There are steps you can take to protect yourself if someone arrests you. These are the steps you should take if it happens to you. They will help you protect yourself from an unfortunate fate.
1. Cooperate With the Police
The most important aspect of keeping yourself safe in America is to cooperate with the police officer who arrests you. It’s never a good idea to argue with the police or challenge them in any way. Additionally, you will need to avoid doing anything that might make the officer nervous. You’ll need to allow him or her to see your hands at all times and avoid making any sudden movements.
2. Avoid Incriminating Yourself
Keep in mind that an arrest is not a conviction. An arrest is a declaration from an authority that he or she suspects that you’ve committed a crime. You are still innocent until that other party proves that you are guilty. Thus, you have a right not to incriminate yourself and to allow the investigative process to run its course. You do not have to answer any questions without an attorney if the answer to those questions will put you at risk of receiving a conviction of any kind. You may politely exercise your rights by requesting that the authorities allow you to get an attorney for your own protection.
3. Contact a Bail Bond Company
The arresting officer will take you in for booking if you’ve been accused of something other than a minor traffic violation. During the booking process, the judge may require you to pay bail to get out of jail until your court case comes up. Judges assign bails sometimes when alleged crimes are of a severe nature. They also assign bails to defendants who pose a flight risk.
You can contact a bail bond company if you find that a judge has assigned a bail amount to your case. You will have to pay about 10 percent of the total bail amount to hire a bail bond company. However, the bail bond company will get you out of jail quickly so that you can return to your family, job and life until it’s time for someone to hear your case. This may be something you need to do to salvage your reputation and livelihood. You can request that a family member or trusted friend reach out to the bail bond company if you are unable to do so. They can complete an application and pay the bail bond company to rescue you.
4. Gather Evidence and Witnesses
Once you get released from jail, you’ll need to start being proactive about your freedom. You should start gathering evidence that will help to clear your name. It would be helpful for you to speak to any witnesses who may have seen what happened. These individuals might stand up for you in court and defend your name. Alternatively, they may be willing to write letters explaining your innocence. The judge presiding over your case may be willing to accept such letters. Every bit of work that you do to clear your name can help your case significantly.
5. Contact a Reliable Attorney
You will also need to contact North Carolina criminal defense attorneys who can help to protect you in your case. These individuals can assist you in a number of ways. They can bring the arresting process into question and ensure that the arresting officer followed protocol and did not violate your rights. They can speak to witnesses and other individuals involved in the case. Additionally, they can paint you in a favorable light and try to prove your innocence. An attorney can even help you if the case ends with a conviction for some reason. Your attorney can still fight to have your name cleared. It’s worth it to schedule a consultation with such an attorney at the very least.
Start Protecting Your Freedom Today
You should now have a clear understanding of how to protect yourself if you get arrested in the United States. Take the steps mentioned above and you should be able to avoid unnecessary jail time.
