Getting arrested for a suspected crime often comes as a shock and it’s common to feel completely paralyzed. As a trusted criminal defense attorney firm in West Palm Beach, FL, we have helped many individuals over the years. Here are our tips on what you should do if you are arrested.
Arrested in West Palm Beach, FL? Here’s What To Do
Stay Calm and Compliant
If you’ve been arrested, you’re probably feeling a whole range of intense emotions which might include anger, fear, confusion, anxiety, and injustice. It’s easy to get swept up in the moment, but the most important thing you can do is to remain calm. In Florida, it’s a criminal offense to resist arrest in any way, so getting irate, running away, or trying to physically prevent the arrest could result in even more charges.
Resisting arrest comes in two forms: violent and non-violent. As well as physically resisting arrest, refusing to be arrested, giving false information, or obstructing the arrest in any other way could all lead to a charge of resisting arrest. Even if you feel the arrest is unjustified, it will be more beneficial to stay calm and make your case through your appointed defense attorney.
Remain Silent
It’s very easy for words to be taken out of context or misconstrued, so it’s often a good idea to remain quiet until you’ve spoken to your attorney. Florida law allows an individual to remain silent without their silence being used against them during any subsequent prosecution, so you won’t harm your case by keeping quiet.
Law enforcement officers may ask you questions following your arrest, but any information you provide may be used in a prosecution. Therefore, it’s usually a good idea to politely inform the officers you wish to remain silent until you have spoken to your attorney. Officers are not allowed to continue to try and question you after you have asked for an attorney. If they do, any information obtained might not be admissible in court.
Speak to a Criminal Defense Attorney
Whatever circumstances you find yourself in, your defense attorney will be able to help. Even if the charges are relatively trivial, a defense attorney can make a difference. Having an experienced defense attorney to argue your case could make the difference between being detained or granted bail, or it could even mean that the charges are dropped completely.
You might need to contact family or friends to reach your chosen defense attorney if you don’t have their contact information readily available. Any phone calls made directly to your attorney are privileged and cannot be recorded, but that’s not necessarily the case for any other calls. You should therefore be careful about what you disclose in any other phone calls you make.
With our many years of experience as defense attorneys, we have the skills to help, whatever your circumstances. If you have been arrested, contact us here at The Skier Law Firm in West Palm Beach, FL for urgent legal assistance you can rely on.