Being arrested can be terrifying! But we’ve got your back!
Being arrested is a scary experience, especially if this is your first time. We’ve met with hundreds, maybe thousands of clients over the decades who are terrified and have no idea what to expect once they get to jail. If we had a dollar for every time a frightened person asked one of us “What’s going to happen to me now?”, we’d probably have enough to take the entire city of Grand Rapids or maybe Detroit ou to lunch.
It’s definitely an unpleasant situation, and not knowing what to expect makes it so much worse! However, while no amount of knowledge and preparation will make it smooth-sailing, knowing what to expect can certainly take the edge off the fear. So we’d like to take this opportunity to give you some information, and a few pointers, that will hopefully make an arrest a little less scary for you.
Sometimes you get charged with a crime after you get arrested:
If a cop pulls you over for suspected drunk driving, and then tests your BAC and determines that you are in fact under the influence of alcohol, they will arrest you and you will be charged with the crime after your arrest. This is usually the case when the arrest was unplanned, which usually happens when you’re “caught in the act” of doing something illegal. But sometimes the cops come looking for you…
Sometimes you’re charged with a crime before you even know it:
If the police are investigating an event or situation, and they determine that there is evidence to support your guilt, they will approach a judge with the evidence against you and try to get a warrant. If the Judge believes that there’s probable cause to support your guilt, they’ll sign a warrant and the cops will come looking for you. An officer may not have a copy of the arrest warrant at the time of your arrest, but they are required to produce a copy within a reasonable amount of time for you to see.
So what happens after you get cuffed by the cops?
After an officer puts you in handcuffs and makes you get into the back of the police car, you will be driven to the local jail in your city or your county. During that car ride, do not discuss the charges or the crime with the police or anyone else. Keep quiet about that. Once you arrive at jail, you will be “booked”, which means you will be given a jail outfit that you will have to put on. You will be searched, fingerprinted, and photographed, and then placed in a cell to wait for your arraignment, which is your first court hearing.
What happens once you’re in the jail cell?
Once you’ve been through the initial booking process, you will be given an opportunity to make a call. This is the part where you call us! You may be tempted to call your spouse, or a close friend, and explain what’s happened, but you shouldn’t’! The most important call, after you’ve been arrested, is to your attorney! Call us at the very first chance, and then don’t talk to anyone else about what happened until after we’ve arrived!
Remember that most calls from the jail are recorded. Don’t say anything about the crime or your involvement in it. Stay calm. Do not speak to anybody in the jail about your case or your charges. Shut up and lawyer up. Be polite and respectful but never discuss your case or the charges.
An experienced attorney can make all the difference to your case!
Join us next time, for the rest of the information about what to expect after a Michigan arrest. Until then, if you or a loved one have been arrested or charged with a crime in Michigan, call The Kronzek Firm at 866 766 5245 (866 7No Jail). Our highly skilled and experienced criminal defense attorneys have been defending people all over Michigan for decades. We have a long track record of success, and access to the best resources to build your defense. So don’t wait!