There may come a time in your life when a law enforcement officer stops you on suspicion of a crime. Whether you are suspected of a misdemeanor or a felony, it can be difficult to know how you should react when you are under pressure. Improvisation, while tempting, is often the wrong strategy. You will want to be aware of some common, universal tactics that you can leverage to protect yourself.
While you can be arrested for a number of things, we want to focus on what you should do when you are accused of a drug crime, whether that is possession, production, distribution, or something else. Here are a few steps that you should consider when arrested on suspicion of drug crimes.
Your Rights When Arrested for Drug Crimes
First, you should know your rights once you are arrested for a drug crime. As you have likely seen in movies and television shows, you have the right to remain silent, more formally known as your Miranda Rights. If you speak up after you are arrested,anything you say can be used against you when being prosecuted by the state or federal government. You also have the right to an attorney—whether you can afford one or not. If you are arrested for a drug crime, you will want to remain silent and ask to speak with your attorney.
Once you are placed under arrest, there is virtually no incentive to try stating your innocence or denying the crime, as any of your words can be used during a trial. Instead, it’s better to stay quiet until you can speak with your lawyer. When you are brought to the police station, use your one phone call to contact a drug crimes attorney or to call a friend or family member who can reach out to an attorney for you.
Talk With Your Attorney and Set Bail
Next, don’t make any rash assumptions. For instance, if you are arrested for suspicion of being part of a methamphetamine conspiracy, don’t assume that your role was too minor for it to be concerning for you. Whether you are arrested by federal or state agents, it is much better to be conservative. Don’t assume that you can be more relaxed since you didn’t participate in some of the more significant activity. Take your arrest extremely seriously and meet with your lawyer to discuss the best way to proceed.
Finally, you should ask the court to set bail for you during your arraignment. This is so you can avoid remaining in jail for the duration of your case. At your arraignment, you will hear the charges levied against you and will have an opportunity to enter a plea of guilty or not guilty. After you ask for bail, the judge can grant or deny your request. If your request is denied, you’ll just want to stay in touch with your attorney to determine the next steps.
The Importance of Preparation
Whether you are innocent or guilty, being arrested for a drug crime can be a traumatic experience. Even if you don’t suspect that you would be arrested for such a crime, it is important to be prepared. Stay calm and collected and follow the advice given above, as well as any advice given by your drug crimes attorney. By doing this, you will ensure that you are minimizing stress in an already stressful experience.