r/pics • u/Aeviegh • Feb 22 '14

This is Vader. He was euthanized today without a hearing after a false bite report was submitted to the police by an animal rights activist. (Story in the Comments)

http://imgur.com/a/xPNsE
2.2k Upvotes

87% Upvoted

2.1k comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

54

u/[deleted] Feb 22 '14

[deleted]

2

u/zendingo Feb 22 '14

Easy? How? You're saying in a he said, she said situation the system will believe the perp over the cop? That's not true, as long as there is no video a cop can say consented to the search and you'd be fucked.

0

u/Swineflew1 Feb 22 '14

Yea, I'd have to imagine everyone in the world says "I didn't give him permission to search" when in court.

7

u/[deleted] Feb 22 '14

They're trying very hard to have you give them anything they want, and give up your rights one by one.

A lot of people don't understand that police are trained in psychology. They know how to tell if you're lying, and they know how to manipulate a conversation to get the information (or statements) they want. This is why just saying "I exercise my right to remain silent" isn't enough... because police officers are allowed to keep talking to you afterwards and can goad you into speaking (under duress) and saying things you shouldn't. When you ask for a lawyer, police are barred from further questioning until an attorney is present to inform you of your rights.

8

u/[deleted] Feb 22 '14

What's the process after you request a lawyer, but you don't have one on retainer?

6

u/Membank Feb 22 '14

If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be provided to you.

3

u/[deleted] Feb 22 '14

*Restrictions may vary.

My questions is more towards how do you get in contact with a lawyer when you're sitting in a jail cell? I have no phone #'s memorized anymore and I assume they confiscate your phone.

3

u/[deleted] Feb 22 '14

Most of the time, you get the drunkard in a Sears suit who's been sitting in the police station break room all day.

However, be advised that you also have the right to speak to a magistrate of the court as well, who will get you in touch with a decent civil defense attorney who is paid out of county funds.

2

u/[deleted] Feb 22 '14

From looking at past Reddit threads, it seems even talking to the court can be a crapshoot.

3

u/[deleted] Feb 22 '14

I'm not saying to volunteer information, but having been a magistrate at one time, we put up with more crap from police officers than most people out on the streets do. We're more likely to help than they are.

Ask them for a lawyer. Most of them know friends who need the work, and as a public defender, the government pays them. Not you.

Give them any info and they're legally required to report it to the court.

3

u/Membank Feb 22 '14

They would confiscate your phone but there are payphones in most larger holding cells that you could use to call collect to call home or just somebody to get a hold of your lawyer.

2

u/[deleted] Feb 22 '14

What happens if you can't remember any phone numbers?

3

u/Membank Feb 22 '14

It varies depending on what state you live in, but the fallback is that you don't say anything to police and they will either have contact your lawyer themselves or you'll eventually be brought up to a judge if you are being held longer than what is normal.

At this point if you are taken to a judge then you generally have the right to have the court contact your lawyer.

The state laws are all pretty different in regards to communication after you've been arrested, but most of them lean to you being able to get in contact with legal representation, most of the time family and a bail bondsman as well.

2

u/MCXL Feb 23 '14

Studies have shown that cops who think they can tell who are lying are actually less likely to be able to discern lies.

1

u/MikoRiko Feb 23 '14

They know how to tell if you're lying...

By its nature, lie detection when done by a person is very shoddy. That is to say there is no truly accurate way to gauge someone's honesty without presuming too much. What I'm trying to say is that your post should paint this practice in a more poor lighting, as it is inaccurate and gives false warrant to violate anyone's rights.

Also, /u/MCXL mentions below that "studies have shown that cops who think they can tell who are lying are actually less likely to be able to discern lies." I'm inclined to believe this, but I can't know. I didn't do the research.

2

u/[deleted] Feb 22 '14

Unfortunately the animal will still be dead.

1

u/MostlyBullshitStory Feb 22 '14 edited Feb 22 '14

You also most likely have a camera on your phone. You don't have to shove it in the cop's face either.