Should I talk to law enforcement if I’m arrested?

Should I talk to law enforcement if I’m arrested? If I don’t talk, won’t that hurt me?

No. If you are arrested, you should ask for a lawyer before answering any questions. Once you ask for a lawyer, law enforcement must stop questioning you until you have a lawyer present. A lawyer may not be available to meet with you immediately, but you should wait until you have an opportunity to talk to a lawyer before you answer any questions after arrest. If you have been arrested, it means that law enforcement believes that you committed a crime. Any questions that they ask you will be focused on obtaining more evidence to prosecute you for that crime. The goal of the questioning is to get a confession or incriminating evidence from you. Law enforcement officers receive extensive training in how to interview and interrogate people who they suspect of criminal activity.