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Cell Phone Guide For US Protesters, Updated 2014 Edition

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Re: Cell Phone Guide For US Protesters, Updated 2014 Edition

#61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Someone bleeding in the street needs first aid and/or paramedics. Answering questions from a police officer won't get that person either. Your statement really reads like a non sequitur to me. I think most people either don't realize or choose to ignore the fact that calling the police rarely prevents any crime. It can be effective if what you're seeking is retribution or revenge, but once you've been stabbed whether…

How would you help get medical care? In an emergency situation most people would call 911 and request an ambulance. The 911 operator would request details on the nature of the medical emergency so that the paramedics arrive on scene with more knowledge and an ability to respond faster, and so that you can be advised on how best to proceed while waiting for the paramedics to arrive. The operator may also send the poli…

They can send the police, sure. Doesn't mean I have to answer their questions.

This is a somewhat absurd argument because what I'd do ultimately depends on the circumstance. If I truly know nothing besides my own name and that I found this person bleeding, I would be wondering where my other memories went and if I were brain damaged.

In the general case, they aren't going to be sending detectives immediately to ask questions because someone called 911. Nor would I stay on the scene longer than I was medically needed to be there. But the "general case" is a useless fiction.

Re: Cell Phone Guide For US Protesters, Updated 2014 Edition

#62

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So the lesson is if you see somebody bleeding in the street the right thing to do is to walk away?

Someone bleeding in the street needs first aid and/or paramedics. Answering questions from a police officer won't get that person either. Your statement really reads like a non sequitur to me. I think most people either don't realize or choose to ignore the fact that calling the police rarely prevents any crime. It can be effective if what you're seeking is retribution or revenge, but once you've been stabbed whether…

Parent comment said a guy called 911 and was assaulted for his trouble. I asked what to do instead. What's the non sequitur?

Re: Cell Phone Guide For US Protesters, Updated 2014 Edition

#63

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Just use a little sense. If you buddy suddenly beats someone up, there is a chance they pin you as an accomplice. If you see some old lady get robbed, that's not coming back on you. Also, if the police don't put you under custody, you don't get Miranda rights and you don't get the right to a lawyer necessarily. You'd have to pay one yourself.

You always have your Miranda rights. You're required to be informed of them only if you are to be questioned (edit: while in a custodial interrogation, which means you reasonably think you aren't fully there voluntarily) and your answers used against you in court. Or perhaps more accurately: if you answer a question from the police and weren't informed of your Miranda rights, a competent lawyer may be able to suppres…

Miranda rights go well beyond just being able to be silent. You aren't even allowed to be questioned in the interim after you ask for an attorney. You do always have the right to remain silent.

If you aren't in custody, they don't have to provide an attorney and they can keep asking questions.

And custody can be fairly broad, for example a traffic stop doesn't count.

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