Prepared by the Midnight Special Law Collective

323-939-3039

Generally speaking, engaging in dialogue with law enforcement personnel is appropriate only if you are reporting a crime. If you find yourself in a situation which could conceivably lead to your arrest, you should choose your words carefully.


There are three levels of police-initiated encounters and the second two, which are more serious, require a certain level of proof before the police can engage them.

ENCOUNTER LEVEL OF PROOF

(1) conversation none

(2) detention reasonable suspicion

(3) arrest probable cause

Conversation