If you are arrested,
never tell the police more than your name and address.
Ask for your lawyer– ask for American Justice.

Call (773) 463-1601 any time of day or night.
Leave a message in the "emergency mailbox."
Your call will be returned within 10 minutes– guaranteed!

Have you or a loved one been arrested? Do not under any circumstances tell the police anything more than your name and address. The reason for this is simple: the police need someone to blame for the offense, and often do not care who it is. Any information you give can be misconstrued, written down incorrectly, and used against you to make a case. All you have is your word against the police about what you said– who will the jury believe? Again, do not say a word – just ask for your lawyer – ask for American Justice.

A person who has been arrested as a suspect may only be detained for up to 72 hours (3 days), before the police either must place charges or release the person. Therefore, unless you have been charged, you are entitled to be released within 72 hours. Retaining a lawyer while someone is detained protects against abusive police practices, such as unfair line-ups and coerced confessions. Most of the time, if a person knows that they have only to wait 72 hours, and that there is a lawyer keeping an eye on their case, they will be able to withstand the pressure and be released or charged, without giving a statement!

  
Case Study

Peter R. was charged with possession of cocaine with intent to deliver, a felony with a minimum sentence of 6 years.

Police entered his house, arrested Peter and his friend, and began a search. They discovered narcotics in a bedroom in a small box. On a Motion to Suppress the evidence, American Justice challenged whether Peter could have been considered to have “possessed” the narcotics in the other room.

Without fingerprints or other evidence tying Peter to the narcotics, the judge agreed that the drugs could not be considered his. The drugs were suppressed and the charges dropped.