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Home >  Criminal >  Federal Crimes

     
If you are in custody and the authorities want to question you, they must advise you of your Miranda rights. Your Miranda rights are:

You have the right to remain silent

If you give up the right to remain silent, anything you say might be used against you in a court of law

You have the right to an attorney before questioning; and

If you cannot afford an attorney one will be appointed for you by the courts.

This does not mean that the arresting agents will call a federal crime attorney for you before they begin to question you. It does mean that if you already have an attorney, you can have him or her come and consult with you before you answer any questions.

Given this, if the agents want to question you, you should say either (1) I wish to remain silent; or (2) I wish to have an attorney present, but preferably both.

If you say you want to remain silent, but do not ask for an attorney, they can keep coming back to try and question you in the hopes you will get tired and agree to answer questions.

If however, you ask for a federal crimes attorney, they cannot come back to question you other than to clarify your desire to have an attorney present. Accordingly, you should say, in no uncertain terms "I want to talk to a federal crimes attorney before you ask me any questions."

  

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