No one ever expects to find themselves in jail. But if you do, there are certain things you can do (and avoid doing) to make the experience as smooth as possible.
Time in jail is time away from your family and your obligations. It can quickly lead to bigger problems, so avoiding it in the first place is key, and you can do that or minimize the impact with your interactions. Here are six tips for interacting with the police to help you stay safe and protect your rights.
Do:
1. Remain calm and be respectful.
The police are trained to deal with all sorts of people, but they’re more likely to respond positively if you remain calm and respectful throughout the encounter. Avoid any sudden movements or outbursts, and speak in a clear, concise manner.
Doing so will help to de-escalate the situation and make it more likely that the police will listen to your side of the story. That can be harder to keep straight when substances are involved, but just do your best to listen to what the officers are saying.
2. Cooperate with police officers’ requests.
If the police ask you to step out of your car or come with them to the station, it’s important that you cooperate. Keep in mind that they have the authority to use force if necessary, so it’s not worth resisting their requests.
Even if the police are acting out of turn and it is later determined they did not have the right, your hearing date is the best time to argue. If you do end up under arrest, remember that you have the right to remain silent—which brings us to our next point.
3. Exercise your right to remain silent.
You have the right to remain silent when questioned by the police, regardless of whether or not you’ve been read your Miranda rights. It’s always best to exercise this right until you have an attorney present who can advise you on what to say (or not say).
Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law, so it’s better to err on the side of caution. You can still be pleasant to the officers while refusing to answer questions that might incriminate you. Stick to perfunctory responses.
Don’t:
1. Give false information or documents.
It might be tempting to give the police a fake name or ID in hopes of avoiding arrest, but don’t do it! This will only make matters worse and could result in additional charges being filed against you. The same goes for presenting false documents—if the police catch wind of this, they could charge you with perjury or obstruction of justice. Just be honest from the get-go—it’ll save you a lot of trouble in the long run.
2. Resist arrest or flee from police officers.
If the police try to place you under arrest, don’t resist! This will only escalate the situation and could result in injuries for both parties involved. The same goes for fleeing—if you attempt to run away from the police, they may use force to apprehend you, which could result in serious injuries or even death. Just cooperate and go with them—it’s not worth risking your safety (or your freedom).
3. Incriminate yourself through social media posts.
In this day and age, it’s important to be aware of what you post on social media—especially if you’re facing criminal charges. If your posts are public, anyone—including prosecutors—can access them and use them as evidence against you in court. So if you’re facing criminal charges, it’s best to avoid posting anything on social media until your case has been resolved.
You May Not Control the Outcome But You Can Control Your Reaction
Dealing with the police is never a fun experience, but following these simple dos and don’ts can help make it a bit less stressful. Just remember to stay calm, cooperative, and honest—and most importantly, exercise your right to remain silent until you have an attorney present. If you follow these tips, hopefully, you’ll be able to weather this storm unscathed.
But if you do find yourself in need of a bondsman or bondswoman in the Tarrant County area, look no further than PCS Bail Bonds. Our 30+ years of service to the people of this community will ensure that you get in and out fast so you can move forward. Contact us today to learn more!