The police arrive unexpectedly and place you in handcuffs. Your head is swirling with thoughts as they read your Miranda Rights. It seems like your whole world is crashing down and you don’t know what to do. Your gut tells you that you need to explain your side of the case right away. Here is Piotrowski Law’s guide on why you should remain silent if you are arrested in Broward County.

Miranda Rights

The Miranda Rights are a legal requirement for all arresting offers to provide an arrested individual with information about their Fifth Amendment right to not make any self-incriminating statements. This legal principle came into effect after the landmark Supreme Court case of Miranda Vs. Arizona, and states that the arresting officer must make anyone In police custody aware that:

  • They have the right to remain silent.
  • Anything they say can and will be used against them in a court of law.
  • They have the right to an attorney.
  • If they cannot afford an attorney, one will be provided for them.

Reasons You Should Remain Silent if Arrested in Broward County

When you are initially arrested and charged in Broward County, you may want to defend yourself to the arresting officers. You may know you are innocent with every fiber of your being and think that explaining your side of the story is the best thing to do. Unfortunately, doing this usually is the worst decision you can make. Here’s why.

Once the arresting officers have made the decision to charge you, there is very little that you can say which can make your charges magically go away. In fact, more often than not, by speaking, the only thing you can probably do is hurt yourself later on. This is especially true if you were arrested on domestic violence or abuse charges. In domestic situations in the State of Florida, and so this is true in Broward County as well, police have a policy which requires mandatory charges for domestic charges.

If you do attempt to try and clear your name, the chance exists that your words may be twisted around and used against you. For example, if you acted in self-defense by grabbing someone’s wrist to stop them attacking you, officers may misconstrue this and use your own words to press assault charges against you.

In any situation, your best course of action is to take your constitutionally granted right to remain silent, as outlined in the Miranda Rights. You have the right to remain silent, as well as the right to an attorney. Make sure you use both. Don’t discuss the specifics of your case with the police, only your lawyer

Contact an Experienced Defense Attorney Immediately

If the police arrest you and charge you with a crime in Broward County, you need to stay silent and contact an experienced criminal defense attorney immediately.

Chad Piotrowski has an extensive background in aggressively defending his clients from charges ranging from marijuana possession to armed drug trafficking and murder. A former prosecutor in Miami-Dade County, Chad Piotrowski has the unique ability to anticipate prosecution strategies to help build a solid defense to help obtain the best possible outcome for his clients.

If you are looking for an experienced and passionate legal defense lawyer who will relentlessly fight for you, call Piotrowski Law today at (954) 947-5000 for your free consultation.