Steps Following a DC Drug Arrest
When a person is arrested, they do not have the right to make a phone call. In some situations, the police may permit a person to make a phone call to contact a family member, friends, or an attorney, but the police are not required by law to grant them the phone call. An individual can ask and in many situations, the police will let them make a phone call. It is important that if a person is making a phone call that they do not discuss the specific facts of their case with whomever they are calling.
The individual should then contact a seasoned defense lawyer to learn about the steps following a DC drug arrest.
Interrogation
One of the first steps following a drug arrest in DC is the police interrogation. The officer could ask the person about evidence they found on them or near them. The police will also ask the individual questions they are hoping results in a statement they can use as evidence. In this situation, if the police are going to interrogate the person, then they are required to read them their Miranda Warning. The gives the person being placed under arrest the right to decline questioning and the right to request an attorney.
Requesting a Lawyer
If a person is requesting an attorney, the police will not seek an attorney for them or allow an attorney to sit there with them after they have been arrested for a drug charge. Most of the time, if a person asserts their right to a lawyer, the police end the questioning and move on without bringing a lawyer to them at the police station. It is important for every person to know that if police are interrogating them, the officer’s goal is to use their statement against them.
It does not matter if the person believes they are helping themselves or asserting their innocence. And it does not matter if the police claim that they just want to hear their side of the story. A person who has been arrested cannot trust anything that the police are saying. If a person wants to protect themselves, whether they believe they are innocent or may have done something wrong, the best way is to tell the police they not going to talk to them without a lawyer.
In many situations, the police may choose to not interrogate them. If this is the case, law enforcement will book and process them (take fingerprints and photographs) and make a decision as to whether they are eligible to be released on a citation or need to be brought directly before a judge.
Release From Custody
Once a person is released from the police station, they should immediately contact an attorney to figure out the next steps following a DC drug arrest. A lawyer can assess the person’s situation and tell them what their options are. In the event that a person is not released on a citation, then they still have the ability to have a lawyer represent them when they appear in front of a judge for their initial appearance. The initial appearance is for the purpose of having a judge determine whether the defendant is eligible to be released while their case is pending.
There are a lot of factors that are taken into consideration at that point, depending on:
- Nature of the person’s charge
- Individual’s criminal history
- Any prior history of the defendant not appearing for past court dates
- Any evidence that the person might be a flight risk
Contact a DC Drug Attorney for Assistance
The steps you take following a DC drug arrest can have a serious impact on the outcome of your case. For help asserting your rights and working towards a positive resolution of your drug charges, contact an experienced defense attorney today.