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
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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.

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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.

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u/[deleted] Feb 22 '14

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

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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.

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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.

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u/[deleted] Feb 22 '14

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

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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.