Avoiding Arrest and What to Do if You Are Arrested

If possible, avoid getting arrested in the first place.  The police may not arrest you for every crime that you committed.  For relatively minor crimes, they may write out a citation directing you to report to a jail for booking on a certain day or to appear in court at a particular time, or they may let you off with a warning.  However, you should

• Avoid suspicious places;
• Not associate with people who belong to criminal gangs, have little respect for the safety of others, or associate with lawbreakers;
• Not drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol;
• Keep prescription medicines in their original containers and a copy of your prescription with you;
• Not carry firearms unless you are licensed to carry them;
• Not buy firearms for a friend, a fiancé, or a person with a criminal record;
• And be polite to police officers.
• Do not smart off to them.

Depending on the crime, the police officer’s attitude, and/or the instructions from their bosses, the police may choose to arrest you regardless of your efforts to avoid being arrested.  When you are arrested, the police place you in their custody, and you go to jail.  Generally, a bond will be set. Once you no longer have freedom to leave, the police must give you Miranda warnings.  You have the right to remain silent, to be warned that any words you utter can be used against you, and to an attorney, and if you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed for you.  You can stop answering questions without a lawyer present and wait to resume answering questions after consulting with a lawyer.

You will be booked, and the police will seek your identifying information: your name, birthday, and address.  You will be fingerprinted and photographed.  Unless you make a bond, you will remain in jail.

Then, you will face criminal charges in the courts, a process that often takes months and sometimes years.  The prosecutors’ job is to convict people the State believes to be guilty of committing crimes.

Criminal charges are serious.  Do not face them alone. Know and understand your rights and options.

If you are charged with a crime, talk to an experienced criminal defense attorney.  For more information, contact Nashville Criminal Defense Attorney Perry A. Craft.