If you believe you are about to be arrested, preparation is important. First, hire a good criminal attorney. Prepare your family for the possibility of your arrest. Make emergency plans for your children, and if you have any special medical conditions, plan for those as well. Memorize the numbers of your family members and your attorney. If you have enough time, make lists of information your family would need to know if they weren’t able to reach you for a period of time.
Once you are arrested, don’t resist the arrest. Even if you aren’t guilty of the crime, or the arrest is done in an unfair manner, resisting will not make the situation better. In fact, it will make it much worse. Upon arrest, don’t answer any questions. Tell the arresting officer you want to remain silent and you want to see your attorney. If you can’t afford an attorney, they should provide you with a free attorney. Don’t speak to the police, sign anything they offer you, or make any decisions without your attorney.
If you aren’t a United States citizen and you are arrested, there are special things you need to keep in mind. First, don’t discuss your citizenship or your immigration status with anyone except your attorney. If an immigration agent comes to see you, don’t answer any questions or sign anything without an attorney. Be sure to ask your attorney about the effect of a conviction on your immigration status, and keep that in mind before making any decisions. Finally, make sure to read everything in full. If you can’t understand, tell the police officer you need an interpreter.
