Disclaimer: US specific general guidance, not specific legal advice. For legal advice pertaining to your specific situation, talk to an attorney. Do not speak to law enforcement officers.
Image: Lined paper titled Should You Speak To Law Enforcement Officers?
A drawn flowchart with the titled situation: Law enforcement officers would like to speak with you. All answers and responses eventually lead to Do not speak to law enforcement officers.
Are you being detained?
- If yes, is your lawyer present?
- If you don’t know, ask “Am I being detained?”
- If the law enforcement officer says yes, you are being detained. Is your lawyer present?
- If the law enforcement officer says no, you are NOT being detained. Ask “am I free to go?”
- If the law enforcement officer says yes, leave immediately. Do not speak to law enforcement officers.
- If the law enforcement officer says no, you are being detained. Is your lawyer present?
- If no, ask “Am I free to go?”
- If the law enforcement officer says yes, leave immediately. Do not speak to law enforcement officers.
- If the law enforcement officer says no, you are being detained. Is your lawyer present?
If you are being detained…
Is your lawyer present?
- No – demand to speak to an attorney. Do not speak to law enforcement officers.
- Yes:
- Does your lawyer think you should talk to law enforcement officers?
- No: Do not speak to law enforcement officers.
- Yes: Fire your lawyer. Do not speak to law enforcement officers.
- Does your lawyer think you should talk to law enforcement officers?
The only things you need ever say to law enforcement are:
- Am I being detained?
- Am I free to go?
- I would like to speak to an attorney.
Credit:
Twitter, @oaklandElle.
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