In most cases, real life arrests do not happen as quickly as they do on TV shows and in movies. It can take a long time for the paperwork to be completed and warrants to be granted.

The fact of the matter is that the criminal justice system can be difficult to navigate. Also, it can take a long time to go through the arrest and trial process. The whole process could take months or even years to complete.

Additionally, the pre arrest process might be much longer than you may have anticipated. In many cases, you won’t get blindsided by an arrest. You will probably know that you are a person of interest in a case and can therefore plan accordingly. This will give you the opportunity to contact an attorney at an early stage in the process.

Pre Arrest Representation

A pre arrest is the time period before you are arrested when the police are investigating you. Sometimes you might not be aware that you are being investigated by the police. However, in other situations, the police might inform you that you are a person of interest.

There is oftentimes a period before you are arrested where the police are gathering information about you. They try to establish evidence to prove that you committed a crime. Also, they discuss a crime with eyewitnesses. During this time, the police may try to contact and interrogate you, which lets you know that you might be arrested in the future.

Before an arrest takes place, you do not have to cooperate with the police officers’ investigation. You do not have to answer any questions or volunteer any information about yourself. This is something that many people do not know, and as a result, they end up saying things that the police use against them later on.

As soon as you learn that you are a person of interest in a police investigation, it is a good idea to contact an attorney. They can make sure that you are not harassed by the police and that you do not say anything incriminating. This can ultimately help to avoid an arrest. If you do face an arrest, you can contact our office for assistance. We can guide you through this process and make sure that your rights are not violated.

There are many legal considerations and issues that a person might face before they are even arrested. In order to protect your rights in a pre-arrest situation, check out the pages in this section of our website.

Police and Search Warrants

First, consider situations where you might have to deal with the police and search warrants. Search warrants are needed in many situations if the police want to conduct a search. The search warrant protects citizens’ rights and protects them from unlawful searches. You can learn about searches of your person on this page and when a warrant is/is not necessary.

Also consider when the police can or cannot search your home. Do police officers always need a search warrant to get into your home? You can find out on this page. Another place where you might be subject to a search by the police is at your office. If you are at work, can the police come search your office or desk? Or can your boss search through your things? We discuss these issues on this page.

Another very common type of search that we see is the automobile search. Oftentimes a police officer will pull someone over for something simple, such as speeding, but then they will try to search the vehicle. There are some situations where a search is allowed, particularly if you give consent. In other situations, the police officer needs a warrant to search your vehicle. We cover automobile searches on this page.

Finally, when can the police search your smartphone? You likely have a lot of sensitive material on your phone, including private messages, passwords, search history, and more. Can the police just take your phone? Find out here.

Legal Terms and Rights

Having a solid understanding of some basic legal terms can also help you through a pre-arrest situation or a run-in with the law. We have several guides to legal terms on our website. Learn more about definitions and terms here. Also check out our crimes definitions page, as well as this crime chart that shows some definitions and penalties for Connecticut crimes.

Also make sure that you know your rights if you have a run-in with the police. Review the Bill of Rights as well as the Miranda Rights to make sure that your rights are protected.

Hiring a Lawyer

If you are concerned that you will be arrested for a crime, it is best to consult with a lawyer as soon as possible. Check out our page on when to hire a lawyer for more information on the right time to hire. Next, consider who you should hire to defend you for a criminal situation in Connecticut. Not all lawyers are the same. On this page, you can learn more about how to find a lawyer who can provide the best help for your situation. Finally, review our page on how to hire a lawyer for some additional tips.

Facing a pre-arrest situation can cause a lot of anxiety because you don’t know what will happen next. Feel free to contact our office with any questions that you have. We are happy to help you during this difficult time.