Arrests: Your Rights and the Law
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Enter Your Zip Code to Connect with a Lawyer Serving Your Area
Getting arrested for a crime is a very serious matter. The Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution protects us from "unreasonable" arrests, but what that means exactly depends on understanding and applying many rules developed by Congress and state legislators, as interpreted by federal and state courts.
Learn about the procedures that police must follow in order to make a legal arrest, and what happens to your case if the arrest is not legal.
Criminal Arrest Basics
Your Rights if Arrested
There’s more to an arrest than taking a suspect into custody. Arrests trigger legal (and emotional) after-effects that include detailed and specific police responsibilities.
There’s more to an arrest than taking a suspect into custody. Arrests trigger legal (and emotional) after-effects that include detailed and specific police responsibilities.
Get Legal Help
If you or someone you know has been arrested, you'll want to talk to a criminal defense lawyer to ensure the case is handled properly. With very, very few exceptions, defendants should not attempt to handle their cases on their own. Check out the the articles on this website for information about criminal law and procedures, and use the links below to find criminal defense lawyers in your area whom you might want to talk to.
Speak to a Criminal Defense Lawyer
If you've been charged with a crime, you'll probably want to speak to a lawyer.
If you've been charged with a crime, you'll probably want to speak to a lawyer.
The Criminal Law Handbook
Know Your Rights, Survive the System. Learn how the criminal justice system works.
Know Your Rights, Survive the System. Learn how the criminal justice system works.
Browse Nolo's Criminal Lawyer Directory
Browse through lawyer profiles and find an attorney that can help you with your case.
Browse through lawyer profiles and find an attorney that can help you with your case.
Get Informed: Arrests
What constitutes probable case? What is required for a police officer to arrest a suspect? Find out how it all works here.
Why do police need to get a "warrant for your arrest?" Learn about how police get arrest warrants, when they're needed, and more.