Your Rights

Being arrested on suspicion of committing a criminal act can be a frightening and disorienting experience for anyone.  It can be so disorienting, in fact, that you may well forget the US Constitution offers you certain legal rights, regardless of the conditions of your arrest or your ultimate guilt or innocence.

If Iowa police detain or arrest you on suspicion of a serious crime, any criminal law attorney in Iowa would advise you to keep these rights in mind.  Iowa or Des Moines criminal law attorneys may be able to get your criminal charges reduced or dropped should the authorities violate any of your Constitutional rights.

If you are being detained

If the police detain you, it does not automatically mean you have been arrested.  The police might simply be detaining you in order to question you regarding a criminal act, though an arrest may follow detainment.

Individuals being detained by the police for questioning, or for any other reason, should bear in mind that they have the following legal rights:

• To know the reason they are being detained
• To inform other individuals of their detainment
• To a record of the interview
• To attorney and counsel

If you are detained, you should request an Iowa criminal lawyer immediately.

If you are arrested

Individuals taken into custody by police in Iowa should know they have these rights:

• To be informed of the charges against them
• To be informed of the allowable penalties related to those charges
• To obtain a lawyer, or have one appointed for them
• To have a judge determine if they should be released from jail to await trial
• To remain silent

The police may question you without a criminal law attorney present, but they must inform you of your rights. Questioning must stop if you announce that you wish to remain silent or be granted access to criminal law attorneys.

Consult an Iowa Criminal Law Attorney

An essential right for an individual detained or arrested by police is access to an attorney.

If you are arrested or detained in the state of Iowa, contact one of the experienced criminal law attorneys in Des Moines at McCarthy & Hamrock, P.C. immediately. You can count on us to work tirelessly to ensure the best possible outcome for your case and keep you well-informed every step of the way.

If you are charged with a crime, please contact the Iowa criminal law attorneys at McCarthy & Hamrock, P.C. today for a free consultation.  Call us at (888) 317-4978 or contact us online.