Ending up in jail is scary. Even if you are innocent, the police obviously believe you committed a crime, and you need to be cautious about how you proceed. From the moment the cops arrest you, you need to start planning your defense.
Whether you are innocent or guilty, there is never any reason to talk to the police without a lawyer present. You have nothing to gain by accepting an interrogation from law enforcement without legal representation. In fact, you could end up making things a lot worse. At the time of arrest, you need to provide the police with your name and a copy of your driver’s license and registration if the cops caught you driving at the time.
You may end up telling a white lie
The police may suspect you of a crime. In actuality, you were in the middle of breaking the law, but for a lesser offense. You end up telling a white lie to get out of it, and then the police find out you lied. It does not matter to the cops how big or small the lie is. If you lie for any reason, then it automatically makes you look suspicious.
Any information can work against you
The police could arrest you on drug charges. You are completely innocent, but in the middle of the interrogation, you say something like, “Sure, I did some drugs in college, but I have given up that lifestyle.” It is vital to remember that the police are never your friends. You never want to admit to partying or getting into trouble years ago. The cops will use any evidence they can find to work against you. It is also possible that the police will not remember every last detail of your testimony and end up misconstruing some details. When in doubt, get a lawyer to talk to the police, and keep your mouth shut in the meantime.
