The legal career of a dedicated DC criminal lawyer is based around defending people who have been accused of a number of criminal charges. Often times, individuals who are confronted by police are so flustered that they inadvertently waive many of their constitutional rights, even if nothing illegal as happened. To combat against this, as well as encourage Washington DC residents to utilize their rights, the CATO Institute unveiled a thirty-eight minute film entitled “Ten Rules for Dealing with the Police,” which highlighted how easily people can unintentionally forgo constitutional protections during a confrontation with police.
Narrated by a local criminal lawyer, the film displays a number of hypothetical situations in which ordinary people who have not committed any illegal act do not even have an opportunity to request a lawyer before they unintentionally waive their rights. One scene depicts a college student who was pulled over by law enforcement officials for “illegal lane changes,” who allowed the police to search his car in order to prove that he was not a gun runner. In another scenario, an elderly woman allows two officers to search her home to complete a ”safety check.” However, she was quickly placed in handcuffs when police found a small bag of marijuana stashed in the couch. According the the narrator, “The police are trained in techniques to get you to waive your constitutional rights. Even the nicest cop will use your mistakes against you.” Therefore, knowing your rights is essential to prevent the conviction of unnecessary and inappropriate DC criminal charges.
Here are some helpful tips to protect your personal freedoms and liberties in the event of a confrontation with law enforcement officials:
- Always stay clam and collected–but above all else, always treat the police officer with respect.
- Exercise your right to remain silent, as it is the best way to preserve your Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.
- You may refuse any searches of your body or personal property if police officers do not have a warrant. Simply say: “I do not consent to searches.”
- Don’t be tricked by false promises or threats made to you by police.
- Always ask the attending officer if you will be detained or if you are free to leave. In order to detain you against your will, they must have probable cause that an illegal act was committed. Likewise, do not do anything to give the police probable cause to detain you unnecessarily.
- Running away is considered probable cause for detainment and could land you in actual trouble.
- Be an attentive witness to the situation, so that if police misconduct occurs, you may report it.
- Without a court-signed search warrant, do not allow any government official inside your home.
Following these simple, but important tips can help protect your constitutional rights that many people unknowingly waive during police encounters. If confronted by police officers for a crime you did not commit, it is important to immediately seek the legal advice and legal representation of an experienced and hard-working DC criminal attorney. Doing so can help ensure the most successful outcome for your case.
