We’ve all heard it before (at least on television): “You have the right to remain silent. If you choose to give up your right to remain silent, anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law…”
However, if you’ve found yourself in trouble, it’s not uncommon for an officer to follow this statement with questions such as “You want to tell me what’s going on here?”
Your first inclination may be to respond to the officer in an attempt to negotiate your way out of trouble, or to show that you’re being cooperative. The problem is that the officer isn’t seeking a way to justify letting you go; he is seeking a way to justify arresting you. However, if you choose not to answer the officer’s questions, you will effectively be depriving him/her (as well as a prosecutor) of evidence that may have potentially been used against you down the line.
Also, if an officer encourages you to talk with statements like “We can make things easier for you if you work with us”, remember that he has no authority to dismiss any charges. These decisions are made solely by the prosecutor.
If you’ve been arrested in Pennsylvania, you can receive the support you need in the form of Erie county bail bonds. From misdemeanor to felony charges, we have the right Pennsylvania bail bonds at the right rates for you.
