One of the building blocks of a democratic society is an educated citizenry. If citizens don't know their legal rights and how to enforce them, they will be taken advantage of. Ignore your rights, and they will go away.
The police-citizen encounter is a very dramatic contact with "the government". All citizens should know how the Constitution works and what rights all citizens have.
Rather than "reproduce the wheel", here's a link to vital information provided by the Ohio State Bar Association entitled, "Your Rights if Questioned, Stopped or Arrested by the Police": www.ohiobar.org
These are excellent introductions to a complex subject matter.
Initially,
1. NEVER GIVE UP YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS!
2. DON'T TALK YOUR WAY OUT OF TROUBLE!
3 .SAVE YOUR BREATH FOR YOUR LAWYER OR THE JUDGE.
4.YOU DON'T HAVE TO GIVE CONSENT TO BE SEARCHED; IF ARRESTED, PLEAD NOT GUILTY: APPLY FOR A PUBLIC DEFENDER OR CONTACT SLS OR A LAWYER
5.YOU HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE BUT YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS
You can also find useful into at www.nolo.com.
Click into "Self-Help Law Centers" and select "Criminal Law" under the Topics.
© 2006 Kent State University & KSU Student Legal Services. Using any content to redistribute, copy or use in any manner and in any form is strictly prohibited without the prior written consent of SLS administration. All Rights Reserved.