Just because someone commits a crime, gets caught, and gets arrested doesn’t mean they lose all their rights and become defenseless. Arrested individuals earn some rights to protect themselves during this time, especially when they are most vulnerable to the police.
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Two of the greatest rights an arrested individual has is:
- The right to remain silent
- The right to an attorney
These rights are known as the Miranda Rights. It empowers the arrested individual to decline to answer any police questions. Anything they say to the police can be used against them in court, including any statement that turns out to be a false confession. Some people are so nervous and intimidated and just want the police to stop pressuring them so they will falsely admit to guilt, when they truly didn’t “do it.” The suspect can say they do not want to answer any more questions and with that statement, the police must stop questioning.
This brings us to part two of the Miranda Rights – the right to an attorney. Whether a hired private lawyer or a public defender, the suspect has the right to an attorney to represent them and help fight their case. The attorney will be present at all further questioning.
Another right that many, but not all, arrested individuals will be granted is the right to bail. Those who are given the right to bail are encouraged to use this right and bail out of jail. They can do this with the help of a bail bond agent, who will make the process easy and more affordable, as bail along is not easy to pay.