Flint Hullinger | Utah Criminal Defense Attorneys

What do I do if I am arrested?

It's not like the TV shows, the police are seldom that nice, and you don't get a free phone call at the jail. You need to remember that you are already the focus of the police attention, and anything you do or say WILL be used against you. Invoke your Constitutional rights to remain silent and have your attorney with you before any questioning, and then, REMAIN SILENT! It does you no good to say that you won't answer any questions if you talk your head off to the police, so the short answer is shut up! Follow the police instructions as to how to stand, sit or lay down; don't resist or evade in any way; and don't try to bargain your way out of going to jail, because it's not your decision.

What do I do if I am accused of a crime, but not arrested?

Do NOT answer any questions and do NOT say anything about it to anybody but your lawyer. If the police tell you that you will go to jail if you don't cooperate, you should know that the police are allowed to lie to you to get you to say what they want. If they want to take you to jail, they will, regardless of what they tell you to induce you to cooperate, and if you cooperated, you WILL go to jail later when they get around to screening the case and the prosecutor files charges and has a warrant issued for your arrest. DO NOT COOPERATE.