When you are arrested, it may seem like the world is coming crashing down. You are nervous, you are not thinking, you are feeling all kinds of emotions. Maybe you did it – maybe you didn’t, but at the end of the day, the world stops for a second when those handcuffs are placed on you. So what’s the next step? What’s going to happen?
After an arrest, the officers will transport you to the precinct where you will be booked. The booking process involves officers gathering identifying information from you as well as taking your mugshot and fingerprints. After the booking process, depending on the crime officers alleged you committed, you may be asked to consent to an interview with detectives. The immediate response is LAWYER.
It is imperative that you do not speak to detectives without your lawyer present because anything you say can and will be used against you. The rights you have of remaining silent and having an attorney are rights that you may not realizing you are waiving. So to be safe, the only words that should come out of your mouth when spoken to by officers is LAWYER and nothing else.
Depending on whether you are a “lock up” or a “citation release” case, you may go home within a few hours of being processed and booked or you may stay held until you appear before a judge or until the prosecuting agency decides to “no paper” or not move forward with official charges.
The question that pops in your head now is: how do I go about getting my lawyer upon arrest? The simple answer, make the call or have witnesses or friends around you make the call for you. If you are getting arrested, you want a lawyer that is there to have your back and ensure your rights are not violated. You want a lawyer from the start so that you have a better chance as the proceedings go on. You want Wagner, PLLC by your side from the very start.
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