Rights When Questioned By Philadelphia Police

The following is information on your legal rights when questioned by police in Pennsylvania. If law enforcement has questioned you it is likely in your best interest to consult with a Philadelphia criminal defense lawyer as soon as possible. Call today and schedule a free consultation to discuss your case, and make sure your rights remain protected.

What Should I Do If Police Come to My Door and Ask Me Questions?

This is one of the most common questions asked of individuals being investigated for a crime in Philadelphia.  First, you have the right to remain silent, period!  Police cannot force you to cooperate with them or say something that simply is not true.  When confronted by police at your door you may request

(1) the reason why they are there,

(2) whether or not they have a warrant for your premises or your person, and

(3) even request to see the warrant and receive a copy of it.

It is at that time you can let the police know that you or your friend or family member will be calling your criminal defense attorney.  While police often continue their questioning and/or search, your experienced Philadelphia criminal defense attorney can immediately come to your aid and in some cases stop the police from going any further.  Every case is different as are the facts involved in regards to these cases, so only after a consultation with an experienced attorney can you truly understand which of your constitutionally protected rights come into play.

Do I Have To Let Them In? How Should I Say No?

Unless police have an official warrant to search your premises or arrest an individual you do not have to let them in.  Police officers may sometimes abuse their power and may even attempt to threaten an individual in order to get into their premises.  However, at no time, under any circumstances, should you allow police unrestricted access to your premises. Call your experienced Philadelphia criminal defense lawyer and get things under control.  Your rights come first and the police know this. But the police predict most individuals are not aware of their right to refuse police entry and as such police too often take advantage of a person.

Why Shouldn’t I Just Them In To Show Them I Have Nothing To Hide?

You should never let police officers investigating a crime that may involve you onto your premises unless they have the proper judicial authority to do so.  Even when you know you have nothing to hide, it is imperative that you allow an experienced criminal attorney to protect you.  The police will not tell you why they are there or what they are looking for.  You need to know this and you have a right to defend yourself.  Police often use inexperience as a way to get into an individual’s home, so a person should obtain the knowledge necessary to control an officer’s search of their premises and insure all policies to protect your rights are followed.