The police can come to your home or business to conduct an investigation, give a message, gather information about a crime in the area or serve an arrest/search warrant, among other reasons. If the police show up on your doorstep, what can you do to protect yourself while interacting with them respectfully?
Here is what you can do:
Ask for a warrant
You don’t have to let the police into your home or business. Politely let them know they can’t come in without a warrant signed by a judge. If they have one, request them to slip it under the door or hold it up the window to confirm the address. If the address is wrong, let them know immediately.
With a search warrant, the police can enter your home or business but they can only search the areas and items listed. Thus, pay attention to these details as well.
Step outside to talk to them
If the police don’t have a warrant and you don’t consent to a search, you can speak with them, provided you are careful about what you say. Step outside and shut your door to do this.
But remember, you have the right to remain silent – you don’t have to talk to the police. You can politely and audibly inform them you don’t wish to answer their questions. Even if the police have a search warrant, you can still exercise your right to remain silent.
Note that the police can enter your home or business without showing you a warrant in some instances. For example, when they want to protect life or believe evidence might be destroyed if they don’t act quickly.
Regardless of where you interact with the police, you need to be intentional. You should also seek legal guidance to prevent the situation from worsening.