David Benowitz sobre arrestos y registros
Below, DC criminal attorney David Benowitz answers questions about arrests and searches in DC.
Si una persona es arrestada e insiste en hablar con un abogado, ¿eso implica culpabilidad?
David Benowitz: If a police officer says, “You have the right to remain silent. You have the right to an attorney. Anything you say can be used against you,” and then they ask you if you want to speak with an attorney, it will never be a problem for you if you say “yes.” I tell clients all the time: You say, “I want an attorney.” What I do with clients who are in danger of being arrested, they haven’t been arrested yet but it’s pretty clear that the government’s investigating them and they may well be arrested, I give them a letter from me addressed to the relevant law enforcement agency that says [essentially] I represent so-and-so, he is asserting his right to silence and to counsel, to a lawyer. He does not want to speak with you. He doesn’t want to be put on video so he can say he doesn’t want to speak with you, because that’s what the police do to try and get you talking. They try to take two bites of the apple that way. And I give [my clients] three or four copies of the letter, so they can have one in their pocket at all times, one in their car, one in their house. So they don’t have to say anything when or if a police officer approaches them and arrests them. All they do is give them the letter, and they don’t have to say anything. [That makes it easier for clients] who feel like, “I don’t want to offend anyone” or “I don’t want to be the person causing trouble.” They might think, “It’s going to get me in trouble if I say I don’t want to talk.” It will never get you in trouble, in that sense.
¿Qué pasa con las solicitudes de búsquedas? Si un oficial dice: "¿Podemos registrar su automóvil?" ¿Podemos registrar a su persona? Tu dices…
David Benowitz: The answer is no.
Y ellos dicen: "¿Qué? ¿Tienes algo que ocultar?".
David Benowitz: I always advise people to be as polite as possible. You should be just very polite and politely decline to have your vehicle, for example, searched. The answer to the question, “Well, if you have nothing to hide, then why do you mind, why do you care if I search your car?” Again, I wouldn’t advise answering the questions. I would, again, just politely say, “I do not want you to search my car. Sorry.” In this country, you don’t have to let anyone search your car, or your house … unless they have a search warrant. Then you don’t have a choice. But barring that, you don’t have to consent. And that’s what our constitution guarantees. You should never feel bad about standing on your rights. Just do it politely. There’s no reason to get in a fight about it.
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David Benowitz y su firma son los mejores equipos estratégicos y compasivos con los que trabajará. El Sr. Benowitz y su equipo son diligentes y proactivos, lo que se ve reforzado por el enfoque metódico y estratégico de la ley de David. Mi caso era un caso muy complicado y cargado de emociones que involucraba información clasificada, en el que enfrentaba tres acusaciones, dos de cadena perpetua y una de 20 años. ¡El Sr. Benowitz utilizó una red de abogados junto con su propia estrategia para llevar el caso al éxito! Recomiendo sinceramente a David Benowitz literalmente con mi vida.
I recently had the pleasure of working with Andrew Lindsey from Price Benowitz for legal assistance..my experience with Andew Lindsey and Price Benowitz exceeded my expectations, and I would not hesitate to recommend his services to anyone in need of legal representation. His professionalism, expertise, and commitment to client satisfaction set him apart, and I am grateful for his assistance in navigating the complexities of the legal system.