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[David Nathanson has moved]

It’s !

When cops ask you questions, ask for a lawyer and then STFU:

- I am not discussing how I’m doing or where I’m going.

- Am I free to leave?

- I am not answering any questions.

- If they ask to search anything: "I do not consent to a search."

- I want to speak to a lawyer.

It's hard to say no to someone in authority. Practice makes perfect. "No, I don't want to answer questions. I want a lawyer." STFU.

As with every post, I'm a lawyer in the USA. These comments are based on law in the USA. (And they apply to all people in the USA, whether or not they are citizens.) Some US states provide more protections than this. /END

@D_J_Nathanson I would very much love for an international guide to STFU though - I haven't really found one that brings everything together in one place. Especially for visiting citizens of other countries who may not be familiar with their civil rights there.

I feel bad for the police officers. They're the stooges being set up to incriminate innocents, under huge pressure to lie, cheat, and steal to get a confession. None of what you say should be admissible in court, and instead it is considered incontrovertible evidence. The lawmakers wrote it that talking to police can be used against you, while talking to a lawyer can give you some modicum of protection against that. It prevents cops from solving crime, and leaves them nothing to be but crazed inquisitors, torturing confessions out of bystanders.

I mean I feel "bad" in the sense that I still want the one who wilfully tortured out confessions to be pulled out of his cozy retirement and hung somewhere by his nipples for a few weeks. But the system is rigged against any cops who aren't trying to do that, too.

@D_J_Nathanson @xris

Yes indeed. Truer words.

It’s esp important for kids who trust folks in a position of authority to look out for their best interest — just train your kids to call you and memorize the number of a trusted lawyer.

Got my own kids trained to recite a phone number of their uncle and politely repeat.

(If you all are in Tx look up my bro — good at his job- Se habla español
legrandelaw.com )

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@D_J_Nathanson How well does this work if you're Black?

@D_J_Nathanson Thank you. Lost a brother-in-law who apparently wasn't sufficiently polite. Still not sure that cis whites asserting their rights will help anyone else, but your guidance was helpful.

@RobinFriend I’m so sorry. It doesn’t have to be like this.