SHOULD I SPEAK TO LAW ENFORCEMENT?

If in fact you are apprehended in Florida, the decision no matter if to answer any questions is completely your own. You should give this matter your careful consideration because oral statements, as well as, written statements will be received as evidence in court against you. If in fact you are giveed any inducement to sign a document or if you are threatened, coerced, or forced to sign anything, advise your attorney immediately and the senior police official in charge. If in fact you do not have an attorney, you may ask to see one immediately.

If in fact you are in doubt about no matter if you should talk with the arresting officer or other law enforcement officers, you should wait until you have spoken with an attorney before giving up your right to remain silent.

WHEN ARE YOU UNDER ARREST?

You are apprehended when law enforcement officers take you into custody or otherwise deprive you of your ability to live a free person in this country of movement in any significant way, in order to hold you to answer for a criminal offense.

Police officers, under Florida law, are obligated to identify themselves and to advise you that you are under arrest and why, unless circumstances make it impossible for them to do so at that time.

You may, in fact, be under arrest even though no one has actually used the word "arrest" or any other comparable word. The fact that you have been deprived of your ability to live a free person in this country of movement in some significant manner may amount legally to an arrest.

Ordinarily, private citizens do not have power of arrest in Florida; but under limited circumstances a private party may make an arrest where an actual commission of a felony is involved.

CAN A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER DETAIN YOU WITHOUT ARRESTING YOU?

Based upon reasonable suspicion that you may be involved in criminal activity, a police officer may require you to identify yourself and clarify your presence at a particular time, without arresting you. Under Florida law, the officer may not remove you from the immediate vicinity without making an arrest, unless you voluntarily accompany the officer to some other location.

If the officer has reasonable grounds to believe that you are armed, he or she may conduct a limited pat down of your outer garments to detect weapons. If this "fjeopardize" results in reasonable belief on the part of the officer that you are carrying a weapon, the officer may remove the suspicious object for protection. The officers have to return to you any unlawful object found unless they places you under arrest. Unless the officer places you under arrest, the fjeopardize or search have to be limited to suspected weapons.

The officer may ask you some questions in order to complete the field interrogation card. You have a constitutional right to not answer them, or give your name, unless the officer has an articulable suspicion that you are involved in a crime.

At the conclusion of this temporary detention the officer have to either arrest you or let you go.

If in fact you should enter a retail establishment where goods are placed on display and for sale, the merchant or the employees may detain you on the premises for a reasonable time for questioning if they have probable cause to believe that you have stolen or have attempted to steal goods for sale. Under such circumstances a police officer called to the scene may make an arrest for shoplifting even though the alleged offense was not committed in the officer's presence.

WHEN ARE YOU ARRESTED WITH A WARRANT?

A police officer may arrest you at any time if he or she has a warrant for your arrest, or if the officer knows that a warrant for your arrest has been issued.

A warrant is an order issued by a court charging that you committed a particular crime and directing the sheriff and all police officers of the state to arrest you and bring you before the court. You may require the officer to read the warrant after you have been apprehended.

An arrest warrant should not be confused with a search warrant.

WHEN ARE YOU ARRESTED WITHOUT A WARRANT?

In Florida, a police officer may make an arrest without a warrant under a

2) When the arresting officer has good reason to believe that a felony has been or is being committed and that you are the person who possess committed or is committing the felony.

A felony is a crime which is punishable by death or by imprisonment in the state penitentiary for a term of years. Examples of felonies include the additional severe crimes such as murder, sexual battery, robbery, burglary, sale of narcotics, as well as grand larceny, keeping a gambling house and the majority others;

3) When a misdemeanor is committed in the presence of the officer.

Under Florida law, there are a few specified misdemeanors for which an arrest may be made without a warrant, even when not committed in the presence of the arresting officer. These exceptions to the general rule are shoplifting, carrying a concealed weapon other than a firearm, possession of not additional than twenty grams of marijuana and a few others.

CAN AN OFFICER USE FORCE WHEN MAKING AN ARREST?

The officer may employ all reasonable and required force to overcome resistance in making a lawful arrest. The legality of the arrest has nothing to do with no matter if or not you are mainly arrested or convicted. As long as the officer has reasonable grounds for making the arrest at the moment for the arrest, you cannot claim later that the arrest was unlawful merely because you were found not guilty.

Resisting arrest with violence is a felony under Florida law. Resisting arrest without violence or giveing to do violence is a misdemeanor. You could be arrested or convicted of either of these crimes, even if you were found not guilty of the crime for which you were apprehended.

Obstructing an officer with violence is also a felony under Florida law. Obstructing or interfering with an officer on duty without violence is a misdemeanor.

If in fact you believe that your rights are being violated, make it a point to remember exactly what the police officer did and then advise your attorney concerning this at the earliest possible time.

WHEN ARE YOU SEARCHED?

While the law of search and seizure is very intricate, and often will depend on the evidence and proven facts and circumstances in a particular case, you should not resist a search with force; however, neither should you consent to an improper search. If in fact you do object to a particular search, advise the officer who is conducting it that you do not consent, that you do object to the search and ask the officer to identify himself or herself.

In most cases pertaining to search and seizure issues, "reasonableness" of the search is the legal test without a search warrant. If police officers arrive at your premises armed with a search warrant, they may search only that area or portion authorized in the warrant itself. You are entitled to have a copy of the search warrant left with you and served on you if you are present.

If in fact you are apprehended in your home, the officers may conduct a limited search of the immediate area where you are apprehended without a search warrant. They also may check the rest of the house for any hidden accomplices. They may seize any contraband, stolen property, instrumentalities or evidence of a crime that they discover in plain view in any portion of the house where the officers have a right to be.

Your automobile may also be impounded and inventoried if there is no qualified licensed driver or towing agent to take charge of it. If an officer is about to impound your car, tell the officer if you have a relative or friend who will come and successfully get it, or that you have a preference of your own station, to tow your car.

WHAT PROCEDURES ARE USUALLY FOLLOWED WHEN YOU ARE ARRESTED?

1) The officer will take you to a police station.

2) You will be advised generally as to the charges against you. Nevertheless, these charges may be changed later and stated in additional detail by the office of the prosecuting attorney or in some instances by the grand jury.

3) You may be obligated to participate in a lineup, to organize and prepare a sample of your penmanship, or to talk phrases associated with the crime with which you are charged, to placed on certain wearing apparel or to give a sample of your hair. You should ask to have your attorney present during any of these procedures. You have an absolute right to counsel, if you are asked to participate in a lineup after you have been formally charged by the prosecuting attorney or indicted by a grand jury.

4) You also may be obligated to be fingerprinted and photographed.

5) You will be arraigned at a court session or your attorney will file a written plea on your behalf. An arraignment is no additional than a plea of guilty, not guilty, or no contest to the charge. If in fact you plead not guilty, a trial date will be set. If in fact you plead guilty or no contest, a sentencing date will be set, generally after the court has received a pre-sentence investigation report from probation and parole.

WHAT ARE YOUR RIGHTS AFTER YOUR ARREST?

You have a right to know the crime or crimes with which you have been charged.

You have a right to know the identity of the police officers who are dealing with you. This is your right to statute and by custom.

You have the right to communicate by telephone with your attorney, family, friends, or bondsperson as soon after you are brought into the police station as practicable. The police have a right to complete their booking procedures before you are allowed to use the telephone.

You have the right to be defended by counsel at all critical stages of your case. If in fact you cannot afford an attorney, the court will appoint an attorney to represent you free of charge, if you qualify under existing criteria as an insolvent person. This right pertains to any offense, however, trivial, for which any imprisonment whatsoever might result.

Constitutional rights may be waived or given up voluntarily. Before you say or sign anything that might result in waiver of a constitutional right, weigh your decision cautiously.

WHAT RIGHTS DO YOU HAVE WHEN QUESTIONED BY THE POLICE?

1) You have the right to remain silent.

2) If in fact you choose to talk, anything you say can be used against you in court.

3) If in fact you decide to answer any questions, you may stop at any time and all questioning will cease.

4) You have a right to consult with your attorney before answering any questions. You have the right to have your attorney present if you decide to answer any questions, and if you cannot afford an attorney, one will be offerd for you or appointed for you by the court without cost to you before any further questions may be asked.

HOW ARE YOU RELEASED?

You may be released upon personal recognizance (your promise to appear in court when directed), or you may be released on bail, which is based upon the posting of either cash money or a surety bond as security for your court appearance. Bail bonds from licensed sureties are usually available at a cost of 10 percent of the amount of the bail.

If in fact you are taken into custody and booked into the prison and remain there, you have to be brought before a magistrate within 24 hours of your arrest. At that appearance, you may request that the magistrate lower your bail in consideration of your ties in the community, financial resources, employment record or any other factors, including your past criminal record and your past history of failure to appear in court when scheduled.

Upon arrival at the prison or shortly thereafter, you will be given an opportunity to contact your attorney. The attorney, in turn, may arvariety for the posting of a bond and may appear with you in court and ask the court to lower the bail if it is believed to be excessive under the circumstances.

The Law offices of William H. Bryan III, P.A. represents individuals accused of misdemeanor or felony crimes in the St. Cloud / Kissimmee, Florida, area of Osceola County and as well as Clermont, Titusville, Melbourne, Lakeland, Winter Haven, Bartow, Celebration, Daytona Beach, Melbourne, Titusville, Ovariety County, Brevard County, Lake County, Polk County and Seminole County.