We all hope that we will never be arrested by the police, but it is worthwhile understanding what rights you have as a citizen, should it ever happen to you.
First you have the right to remain silent. If you decide that is what you wish to do, you should state clearly that you wish to exercise your right to remain silent. You do, however, have to state your name.
If you are arrested, you also have the right to call for a lawyer. This is something you should do immediately, before you sign anything or say anything at all. When you call a lawyer, you have the right to do so in private, the police are not allowed to listen in to your call. If you cannot afford a lawyer, then do not be concerned, as the state has to provide you one for free.
The police will normally have a warrant for your arrest and you should make sure that you read it carefully. However, in the state of Alabama, a police officer may make an arrest without a warrant in certain circumstances. These include if you have committed a felony in front of the police officer, or if a reputable person has accused you of a serious crime such as murder, rape or selling narcotics, and the police think you are about to escape, giving them no time to get the warrant. Finally, you can be arrested in Birmingham for domestic violence without a warrant.
If you are arrested you should always be polite and try and stay calm. Do not tell lies to the police or hand over any fake documents. You should not obstruct the police investigation and, most importantly, try and remember everything that happened during the arrest so that you can give full details to your lawyer.
