What To Do If You Are Arrested

• Do not resist arrest, even if you believe you are innocent. You will be arrested anyway, and then you'll have the additional charge of Resisting Arrest. Also, the police are more likely to hurt people who resist arrest.
• If you are told that you are under arrest, give only the name, address, and telephone number of you, your immediate family, and your employer. This information is needed in setting bail.
• You have a right to remain silent. Say only, "I want to talk to a lawyer." If the police continue to question you, do not answer. Also, do not speak on video tape or to a district attorney about anything. Remember, it's in the police officers' best interest to get you to incriminate yourself. If you're arrested with somebody else, don't talk with them about the incident in the back of the police car even when the police are not in the car; many police cars now secretly make video or audio recordings of such conversations.
• You have a right to make one phone call to your family, lawyer, or organization (remember the phone you use may be tapped).
• Do not act defiant or talk about filing complaints. You do not want the police to retaliate against you while you're in their custody.
• You will be handcuffed searched, photographed, and finger-printed.
• Try to get the names and badge numbers of the police who arrested you or deal with you in the police station. (This information is your right.)