4 Things You Should Know if You Are Arrested in Wisconsin

 Posted on October 10, 2019 in Criminal Defense

Most of the time, the only contact people have with police are interactions that take place when police believe an individual has done something illegal. Because of this, people tend to have a somewhat fearful reaction to law enforcement. Even if you did not do anything wrong, being approached by a police officer can often elicit fear or anxiety. If you are stopped by police or arrested for a crime, there are certain things you should not do, and there are certain ways you should behave to avoid any further trouble. It is important that you understand your rights as a citizen if you are ever arrested for a crime. The following are a few things you should know if you are arrested in Wisconsin:

1. You should never try to resist a police officer who is attempting to perform an arrest. If you do resist a police officer, you can actually be charged with a crime, and you may also end up having to pay fines. If you are detained by a police officer, you are permitted to ask if you are free to go. If the officer says you are not free to go, that means you are being arrested, and you must comply. Doing so can save you a lot of headaches and legal trouble in the future.

2. You do have the right to remain silent, but you still have to disclose certain information. Your right to remain silent is one of the rights given to you by the U.S. Constitution, but it only goes so far. If an officer asks you for certain identifying information, you should comply and give the police officer documentation, such as your driver's license. This can include your name, address, date of birth, age, and even your social security number. If you do not comply and provide this information, you could potentially end up spending more time arrested than is necessary.

3. Your Miranda Rights should be read to you before the police can question you. Everyone who has seen the show “Cops” knows that you must be read your Miranda Rights when you are arrested. In reality, police are required to read you your rights before they question you. If the officer begins questioning you without reading your rights to you, you might be able to have your case thrown out, or any information you give the officer will not be permitted to be used as evidence.

4. You should retain legal counsel before you start talking. Once the officer has read you your rights, you should still remain silent until you have an attorney by your side. Police will usually try to get you to talk, but you should politely inform the police that you do not wish to say anything until your lawyer is present.

Contact a Waukesha County Criminal Defense Lawyer 

If you have been arrested and charged with a crime, you are probably anxious and nervous about the future. Even if you did not commit the crime for which the police arrested you, the consequences of a criminal record can be serious. You should immediately contact a Milwaukee County criminal charges defense attorney to help you protect your rights. At the Bucher Law Group, LLC, we understand how even an arrest with no charges or convictions can affect your personal and professional life. Call our office as soon as possible at 262-303-4916 to schedule a free consultation. 

Sources:

https://www.aclu.org/know-your-rights/stopped-by-police/#ive-been-arrested-by-the-police

https://www.wisbar.org/forPublic/INeedInformation/Pages/Arrest.aspx