What are my rights if I am arrested?

What are my rights if I am arrested?

12.16.2022

By

Summary

Know your rights in the event that you or someone you know is arrested

What is an arrest?

You have been arrested when a police officer or private citizen takes you into custody or restrains you physically or verbally so that you may be held to answer for a crime or an offense; you may be taken into custody immediately or be given an appearance ticket similar to a traffic ticket.

Arrest Warrants

A warrant for an arrest is a process issued by a court. It may be executed on any day of the week and at any hour of the day or night. The police officer must tell you that he is acting under the authority of a warrant. He also must show you the warrant, if you ask, and give you a chance to read it either at the time of the arrest, if it is in his possession, or as soon as he obtains it.

If you refuse to let him in, a police officer with an arrest warrant may break open a door or window to gain entrance, after he has given you notice of his authority and purpose or without notice if he reasonably believes that you will escape, destroy evidence or that notice will endanger him.

Arrest Without a Warrant

A police officer may arrest you without a warrant if:

1. He has reason to believe that a crime, violation or offense is being committed or attempted in his presence.
2. He has reason to believe that you committed a crime although not in his presence. Crimes include felonies and misdemeanors.
3. He has reason to believe that you were lawfully arrested by a private citizen.

When making an arrest without a warrant a police officer must tell you the reason for the arrest, unless you are in the act of committing the crime or are being chased. In any arrest without a warrant, a police officer may chase you beyond his geographical area of employment.

Questioning Without Arrest

The law permits a police officer to approach any person in a public place to request information if he reasonably suspects that you are committing, have committed or are about to commit a crime. He may demand to know your name, address and an explanation of your actions.

You are not required to answer; the right to remain silent is guaranteed you by the Federal and New York State constitutions.

When you are lawfully arrested, your person may be searched. In addition, the immediate area of the place of your arrest may be searched. If you are held for questioning by a police officer and he reasonably suspects that he is in danger, he may search you for weapons or instruments that could cause serious injury.

If he finds a dangerous weapon or instrument on you, he may keep it until he finishes questioning you. If he does not arrest you, he must give you back the weapon (provided you have a permit to carry it). If the police officer, while searching you for dangerous weapons, finds anything else on you which is illegal to possess, he may take it, and arrest you for possessing it.

Arrest Records

When you are arrested for felonies or misdemeanors, a record is made of your arrest. You will be fingerprinted and photographed. If you are found not guilty or the case is dismissed, your arrest record must be sealed and your fingerprints and photographs returned to you or destroyed.

If personal property or money is taken from you, you must be given a receipt showing the amount of money or the kind of property taken.

Once you are arrested and booked, you must be taken to court “without unnecessary delay.” If the court is not then open, you may be held in custody until it is open.

Right to a Lawyer

Your right to have a lawyer is a fundamental one at every stage of a criminal proceeding. If you appear in court without a lawyer, the judge must allow you a “reasonable time” to find one before proceeding with the case, which usually means a few days. In addition, the judge must tell you of your right to use the telephone or to send a letter free of charge in order to get a lawyer and to tell a relative about your arrest.

If you do not have a lawyer at the time of your first appearance before the judge, you have the right to insist that the court assign you an attorney if you cannot afford one. If you have waived your right to counsel earlier and you now decide you want one, you may exercise your right at this stage.

Depending on the local plan in effect for providing a lawyer in such cases, you may get a private attorney, or you may be assigned someone from a legal aid society. A public defender will be assigned if your community has one.