Drug Felony Charges for Distribution

For police to search your cell phone in Michigan, they usually need to get a warrant first. This is largely owed to a significant ruling in the 2014 Supreme Court case, Riley v. California. But the courts couldn’t be more divided on how far they should be allowed to go when they do have a warrant. Cell phones aren’t just any piece of technology Different courts are in stark disagreement over the extent to which a cell phone search should be allowed to go. That seems to be the indication from recent rulings at both the state and federal levels, which are completely scattered on the question of what falls within law enforcement’s purview when searching a cell phone. The amount of damage that can be done by uncovering the sensitive information stored on the average person’s phone can be devastating. Just looking around on someone’s phone without even digging too deep can easily do a significant and potentially unwarranted amount of damage. Because of the sensitive information stored on cell phones, the Supreme Court decided the police need to have a warrant before searching one. But if a warrant is obtained, there still may be some legal limitations put on law enforcement. Disagreement over what’s relevant and what’s not Some courts argue that giving law enforcement free rein over the data on a person’s phone is an unreasonable invasion of privacy. There’s usually a scope that police have to stay within – but don’t assume that’s the case all the time. It depends on a number of factors, the most important one being the court you’re dealing with. Depending on the court, there may be restrictions put on the things law enforcement can look at on your phone. Police may be limited to specific data types, certain periods of time or have a limit on the amount of data they are allowed to use. On the other hand, there are some courts that let law enforcement look at whatever they feel is necessary, so the entire contents of your phone may be on the line. In Riley v. California, the Supreme Court acknowledged the significance of cell phones and made warrants required for police to search them. But what this Supreme Court decision didn’t specify is how far a cell phone search is allowed to go when the authorities do have a warrant.

Nobody wants to get arrested by the police, but sometimes it’s unavoidable. As long as you know your rights and a few tips, you can at least avoid making the situation worse. Here are five pieces of advice for what to do if the police come to arrest you . If you suspect that you will be arrested soon, make sure you memorize the phone numbers of your defense attorney and someone at your home. If you have children, arrange for someone to take care of them for at least a day or two, if necessary. When the arrest happens, remember you have two important rights: the right to remain silent and the right to an attorney. Tell the police you won’t answer questions and that you want to talk to your lawyer. Don’t try to resist arrest. This could result in further criminal charges and physical danger to yourself. Comply with all police orders, even if you believe they are violating your civil rights. Try to remember as much as you can, including the officers’ badge numbers, and write down what happened as soon as you can. You have the right to make a local phone call. If you call your lawyer, the police cannot listen into the call. Remember, your right to an attorney includes having your lawyer present during interrogations and all court appearances. Your lawyer will advise you on dealing with the police and the charges . They will make sure the police follow the rules every step of the way. And if they do violate your rights, your attorney can call it to the court’s attention and possibly get some of the evidence against you thrown out.