what are the legal rights for a 17 year old arrested only on suspicion?

Answer 1

Your rights are the same as anyone else who has been arrested... Free and independant legal advice (while at the police station), the right to have someone informed of your arrest, the right to consult a copy of the PACE codes of practice.

Don't hang onto the term "suspicion" too much. It is part of the terminology used to describe the requirement to arrest someone. A police officer must have reasonable suspicion that you have comitted an offence to arrest you. That suspicion can come from a variety of sources such as someone has made an allegation against you and provided a statement to that effect.

Answer 2

1. The right to free and independent legal advice either on the telephone or in person.

2.. The right to have someone informed of their arrest and of where they are being held.

3. The right to read a copy of the PACE codes of practice.

The same rights as anyone else.

Of course then there's the right to remain silent throughout the interview which is usually an easy way to indicate that you're guilty even if your not and also the opportunity to construct a pack of lies with a solicitor to try and get yourself of the hook if you are guilty.

Remember that when a person is arrested, they are arrested 'on suspicion' of committing an offence for a reason. Because they are only suspected of having committed that offence. The best course of action is to tell the truth, especially if you're innocent.

Answer 3

In the UK;

You have the right to have someone informed of your arrest.
You have the right to seek free independent legal advice.
You have the right to read the police Codes Of Practise.
You have the right to remain silent in interview.

Those are your basic rights. Most people are arrested on suspicion of committing some offence or other. At the end of the investigation if there is sufficient evidence you will be charged (or cautioned if eligable), if not you will be released with no further action.

Answer 4

In Missouri, 17 is a legal adult for criminal matters, so the same rights as anyone else.

And in America, no one can be legally arrested on suspicion alone. A higher legal standard, "Probable Cause" is required to make an arrest.

Answer 5

It depends on where you are. In NYS you are an adult. And in any state probable cause is whats needed to make an arrest. Reasonable suspicion can however get you detained for a short time. And no, just because cuffs went on doesnt always make it an arrest, but just a short detainment while stuff is being sorted out.

Answer 6

The rules evolve over time & not everyone can stay on top of the latest story, so some people might give you bad advice, thus it is wise to check multiple sources. Also the rules vary by nation ... I am answering with relevance to normal situations in USA.

Consider both your rights and the rights of the police. The Golden Rule is especially appropriate here.

You have the right to be treated with courtesy, provided you treat the police with courtesy.

You have the right to a phone call. The police do not have the obligation to grant this to you immediately.

The police have the right to lie to suspects to try to elicit information to help them with their investigations. Suspects do not have the right to lie to the police.
Suspects do have the right to keep silent to avoid incriminating themselves.

An example of an abnormal situation in USA ... let's suppose you are suspected of being an illegal alien. In that case you have some rights just because you are here, but you do not have the right to oppose deportation. If they think you arrived illegally, then you do not have all the same rights as someone who is here legally, so they can deport you without a hearing. Thus, if you really are here legally, all the more important to establish your identity early on.

While, under the 5th amendment to the US constitution (not incriminate yourself) you have certain rights regarding not giving out some info about yourself, you do not have the right to remain totally silent.

Here is a link to news story where US Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that people are required to identify themselves if asked by the police who they are.
http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/0622/p01s0...

If this was in USA, most anyone arrested has Miranda rights. This means you have the right to remain silent (beyond identifying yourself) until you have a lawyer to advise you.

However, depending on what the police are saying (which could be lies), if you are innocent, a small amount of cooperation might rapidly communicate info they can check out, which will clear you from suspicion.

However, do not sign away rights without lawyer advice. Just tell the police you want to cooperate with their investigation, but not want to sign anything until your lawyer checks it over.

As a minor, you have a right to have a parent present during questioning. The police are not supposed to be questioning you without parental permission. However, if you are carrying a false id that claims you are an adult, you may just have waived some of your rights by that action, because then that id that says you are an adult, can cause you to be treated as an adult.

For example, when they decide if you should be tried as a juvenile, or as an adult, the false id can sway them to the side of try as an adult.

Answer 7

No arrests should be made on suspicion only. A seventeen your old has legal rights just as an adult.

Answer 8

In the UK the vast majority of people arrested are arrested on suspcion of committing an offence.A 17 year is treated as an adult in their dealings with the police.

Answer 9

The right to be given a formal hearing and notified of the charges. The right to apply for bail.

The right to have an attorney represent him. The right to have an attorney appointed if he cannot afford one and would be facing potential jail time.

The right to a trial, with the ability to present evidence in his defense.

Basic constitutional rights that apply to anyone accused of any crime under US jurisdiction. At least for now.