Sign in What Do I Do If The Police Question Me?
So, the police came to ask some questions, and I didn't do anything wrong. What should I know?
First off, you have rights. In New Jersey, you may need to give your name, but after that, it's okay to say, I choose to remain silent.
What if they ask me more questions?
You can refuse to answer. You can also ask them, am I free to go? If they say no, you should ask why.
That makes sense. What if they want to search me or my things?
You can ask, do you have a warrant to search me or my property? If they don't have one, you can tell them no.
And if I agree to the search?
You can change your mind at any time and tell them to stop searching.
I guess staying calm is important too, right?
Absolutely. Keeping your hands visible and being polite can help avoid escalating the situation.
What if something goes wrong during the encounter?
If you feel your rights were violated, document the incident with as much detail as possible once it's safe.
And then what should I do?
Once you're free to leave, you can contact a criminal lawyer or civil rights attorney to discuss the situation.
