If a police officer takes you into custody because you were seen committing a crime or are suspected of doing so, here is what you should and should not do:

• Don’t use force. Even if the arrest is unlawful or you feel it is unjustified, there are strict punishments for fighting back. You can be charged with resisting arrest or even of committing battery on a police officer, for example. For this reason, it’s best to stay calm and wait until you have the chance to reach out for outside help.
• Invoke your rights. The police should inform you of your Miranda rights during the arrest, which grants you the abilities to remain silent and hire an attorney. Say something like, “I would like to remain silent and I want to speak to a lawyer.” Then, don’t say anything to them—unless they ask for basic, objective information like your name and address. If the police try to get you to sign a waiver revoking your Miranda rights, don’t sign it.
• Don’t talk to anyone about your arrest. Aside from the police, you should never say anything you don’t have to anyone you come into contact with during the aftermath of your arrest—including other inmates you are jailed with. Anything you say actually can and will be used against you, so it’s best not to say anything at all. It is also best not to talk about the details of your case with family and friends either.
• Call someone for help. Ideally, you should be granted three phone calls—one to your family, one to a bail bondsman, and one to an attorney. Assume any calls you make to anyone other than a lawyer are being recorded, so be careful what you say.
• Get legal help. If you don’t already have a lawyer and can’t afford your own, a public defender will be chosen for you. We recommended choosing a lawyer beforehand and memorizing their number just in case. Calls with a lawyer cannot be recorded by the police, so explain your situation to your lawyer as thoroughly as possible.

In many cases, you will be allowed to bail out of jail shortly after your apprehension—as long as your crime wasn’t severe, and you’ve peacefully complied with your arrest. Many bail amounts are standardized, so an arrested individual can generally get out of jail quickly by paying the amount displayed on the station’s bail schedule. If you cannot pay the bail amount, talk to your attorney about your options.