Talking to the Police When You're Not in Custody

Invoking Your Right to Remain Silent

You’ve seen it time after time on primetime television police shows—cops slapping the cuffs on a “perp” and reading him his rights: “You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and

Stopping and Questioning People on the Street

Police officers may seek information from people whom they have no immediate intention of arresting, whether they are suspects or simply appear to be sources of information. There are legal consequences both of talking and remaining silent.

Demanding Identification from People on the Street

Many states have “stop and identify” laws. Under these laws, if a police officer reasonably suspects that someone has engaged in criminal activity, the officer can detain that person and ask for identification.