Getting Arrested

If you are arrested for participating in illegal activity, you will be handcuffed, taken to the police station, and questioned about the offense you are charged with. Depending on the seriousness of the crime, the police may give you a warning or they may just reprimand you.

If the crime is serious enough, the police may decide to charge you and you will have to appear in court. After you get arrested, you are entitled to make a telephone call to relative or a friend, but the call is not confidential.

• Miranda Rights: Once you've been arrested, the police will read you your Miranda Rights, which is a warning, given by police, to criminal suspects before they are asked questions relating to the suspects possible involvement in the commission of the crime. The warning states that anything you say, can and will be used against you.

The police will then take you into a booking room and ask you about your personal information. You can decline to be booked, but the longer you wait, the more time you will have to spend in jail.

After booking, you will usually be asked to post bail, but if you have a criminal record, the police can hold you until the next morning for a judge to set bail.

Upon release, you will get a date and time to appear in court for your arraignment.

• Arraignment: An arraignment is when the court tells you what offense you've been charged with. You should always go to your arraignment because failing to do so is a serious matter.

After you are arrested, you should seek legal advice immediately. An experienced law attorney can tell you your chances of getting released or if you can get a bail reduction.

If the police stops you while you are driving, you can be given a ticket, but you can also be arrested. Don't try to talk your way out of being arrested because the judge can use whatever you say against you.

Offenses that can cause an immediate arrest:

• Drunk Driving: Driving an automobile while under the influence of alcohol.
• Warrants: Previous violations that have not been paid.
• Possession: Caught with drugs or weapons.
• Armed Robbery: Forcefully seizing property while using a weapon.
• Theft: The act of taking something that does not belong to you without the consent of the owner.
• Prostitution: The offer to sell sex.
• Soliciting sex: The offer to pay for sex.
• Child Molestation: The act of having sexual activity with a minor.
• Rape: Forcibly having sexual intercourse with a person.
• Indecent exposure: The deliberate act of showing a portions of the body that are offensive to others.
• Burglary: Breaking into a home or business to commit robbery
• Vandalism: The malicious destruction of property.

Finance Topic of the Month: Why Is It So Hard To Get Out Of Debt?