Does a cop have to tell a person what they are being arrested for?

Question

if they don't tell them is it illegal?

Answer 1

Everywhere I know of they must give a reason. If arrested you should always request a supervisor, no matter what. They are required to do so. It delays, costs and protects your rights. If arrested you have a duty to protect your rights by making it as costly as possible to the police.

Perchoi. Not just Texas, all police are fascist. Notice I was a volunteer officer. I never got a cent in over 32 years. I made an honest living elsewhere. I tried to provide honesty. And I guarantee police are less honest than anyone I ever arrested other than drug users and drunks. Janis Joplin had it rght, "Freedom is just another word for nothing else to lose."

Oh! The Miranda Rights. When they ask you if you understand them repeatedly say, "NO!"  Drives them up the wall and they have to repeat it over and over.  Nothing like pissing off your local Gestapo.  And yes it is Gestapo. It is that n**i organization's guide lines that are used by nearly every police department. I lived in Williams Arizona a while. They imported several officers from the UK. Best American police I ever saw.

Note: On understanding Miranda Rights. What part of having an attorney present do you not understand?  Therefore sat NO! You really have no rights until that attorney is present to protect you.  And if a cop asks where you are going. Best answer is Why? What does that have to do with anything. Don't ever give free information. Only what is absolutely necessary. Prior to arrest, they pump you for information to use against you. Don't  do it! Protect yourself from the start. Police are not your friends. Especially when they stop you.

Answer 2

Goodness.  Evidently the stupid flag is flying tonight.

Yes, I would imagine we're required to tell people what they're being arrested for in every state in the US.  Often it's formally excused if it's obvious (arrested for burglary while hanging out of a bedroom window that's not yours) or pointless (when you're passed out in the gutter with puke all over yourself, it's probably not important to you that you're going to jail for being drunk in public).

Is it illegal if we don't?  In some or most cases, probably.  But it's not like that's going to have any effect on the guilt or innocence of the arrested person.  In other words, if there's a law where you are (you didn't say) that says the police are supposed to tell you what you're being arrested for, and they don't, then yes - I suppose you can consider that "illegal"...but you're still going to jail and you're still going to be found guilty or not and neither will have anything to do with what the cop did or didn't tell you.

Answer 3

A policeman can use several charges which may be meaningless such as " probable cause ". No evidence is available on which to arrest. but circumstances indicate there may be cause for action.

Answer 4

It doesn't matter--I was pulled over once for DUI in Texas, then passed the all the tests but the jerk took me to jail anyway and never told me why.  36 hours later I'm finally told I'm being held for "evading arrest" apparently because I didn't come to a screeching halt when the cop was behind be, although we all know it's because they couldn't make the DUI charges stick.  It was so pathetic that the judge actually chuckled and said "you were arrested for this?" right before he dropped the charges, but that's still 2 days spent in jail and several hundred dollars in court fees I'll never get back.  The lessons of this story are A) It doesn't matter at all what they tell you at the scene, they can modify it as needed to s***w you, and B) Texas is a fascist police state--don't ever live there!

Answer 5

when you are arrested you are have Miranda rights. a police officer does not have to tell you the reason that you are being arrested, but 99% of the time will, in order to not get themselves in any legal issues. the majority of the time you will be read you rights "You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to be speak to an attorney, and to have an attorney present during any questioning. If you cannot afford a lawyer, one will be provided for you at government expense" generally you are read these rights so the police officer can question you legally. if your rights are not read to you, anything you tell the police officer can not be held against you in court because you were not aware that what you said will be used against you.

Answer 6

yes they should,because they cant arrest someone for no reason  

Answer 7

Actually you don't prior to arrest, with reasoning being they are more likely to flee. It is in your best interest to tell them once the cuffs are on but LEGALLY you don't have to tell them until they are charged.

Answer 8

Yes they should, the arrestee deserves to know what they're being arrested for.